Symposium

Neurodegenerative Disease (e.g. MS, Parkinson's disease)

Clinical Practice (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, knowledge translation/EBP, implementation science, program development)

Health Services Research

Updates in Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Presenter(s)

Silvana L. Costa, Ph.D

Research Scientist
Kessler Foundation
East Hanover, New Jersey, United States

Slides
Yael Goverover, PhD, OTR.L

Professor, Director of Post-Professional Programs
New York University
New York, New York, United States

Slides
Hannes Devos, PhD (he/him/his)

Associate Professor
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Slides
Sarah J. Donkers, PT, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease, often diagnosed early adulthood. Sensorial, cognitive, and motor impairments are common and associated with decreased quality of life. In this symposium we will discuss innovative ways to assess sensorial, cognitive, and motor functions in MS, a pre-requisite to develop efficient interventions to improve function. Dr. Goverover will present studies which have shown olfactory function to be a reliable and non-invasive clinical marker in predicting neurodegeneration and disability progression in MS. Followed by Dr. Costa, who will be discussing the use of eye-tracking (a hands-free technology) to examine cognitive functions in MS. Dr. Devos will then summarize recent studies examining the association between cognitive deficits and mobility and its impact on comprehensive assessment. This includes highlighting that severity of cognitive deficits correlate with physical activity and spatiotemporal characteristics. Finally, Dr. Donkers will summarize motor and functional assessments most sensitive across the MS disease course.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the importance of assessing sensorial, cognitive, and motor functions in multiple sclerosis
Acquire knowledge about new and innovative ways to assess sensorial, cognitive, and motor functions
Understand the importance of a multidisciplinary assessment to better understand function and disability progression in MS