Disease modifying treatments and symptomatic drugs for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: where do we stand?

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction is frequent in multiple sclerosis patients and has important and negative consequences for daily activities and quality of life of subjects. Disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis reduce the incidence of relapses and may prevent disease progression, but the influence on cognitive impairment is unclear, due to several limitations of the available studies. Moreover, symptomatic drugs for the improvement of already established cognitive deficits have been tested in small pilot studies, providing conflicting or mainly negative results. Currently, specific pharmacological therapies for the management of cognitive deficits in MS have not yet been developed. We will provide an updated overview of available evidence of pharmacological approaches for ameliorating cognitive deficits, based either on disease modifying treatments or symptomatic drugs.