Correlation of Memory Disorders with Prefrontal and Limbic System Lesions in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most prevalent demyelinating diseases in central nervous system.  As in other chronic neurologic diseases, impairment in cognitive functioning and memory is common. MS is an inflammatory and demyelinating  disease , resulting in demyelinative  plaques in different regions of the brain .The location of plaques in different parts of the Prefrontal and Limbic System, may lead to memory disorders .This investigation was intended to study the association between  memory disorders and location of plaques in Limbic System and  Prefrontal area of patients with MS.

Objectives: recognizing memory disorders due to brain lesion

Methods: The sample was selected consecutively from patients with MS, who are registered with Isfahan MS Society. Brain System Test (BST)  and Memory Test (MT) were administered to the participants, and their brain Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were analyzed by a radiologist in order to indentify the number of plaques in Limbic System and Prefrontal area. The results of BST and  MT and the location of plaques were analyzed for any association.

Results: The chi square analysis showed that there were a significant relationship (p=0.005) between MS plaques and Prefrontal dysfunction's and memory disorders ; however, there were no significant relationship (p=0.106)  between MS plaques and  Limbic System dysfunction and memory impairment.( P<0.05). The results showed that the most common  memory impairment were in the field of Short term Memory (p=77.8%).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that memory impairment are more correlated to the injury to prefrontal region in MS patients.