Cumulative evidence for MS as a neural network disconnection syndrome consistent with cognitive impairment mechanisms and the confounding role of fatigue and depression—outlook from the Fourth Nordic MS symposium

Abstract

The Fourth Nordic MS symposium served as a platform to present an overview over the rise and impact of cognitive impairment in people with MS, from early stages on, impairing their quality of life. After discussing MS and cognitive impairment symptoms, a review on the pathophysiology underlying cognitive impairment was given, followed by a talk on neuroimaging highlighting cortical reorganization in MS-affected brains. As a conclusion, therapy and treatment options were discussed. The symposium presented several cutting-edge research studies providing or testing working models that appear successful in predicting and explaining cognitive impairment in MS, such as the disconnection syndrome.