This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Sandroff BM, Hubbard MS, Pilutti LA, Motl RW. No association between body composition and cognition in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(3):XX-XX.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208JSP

No association between body composition and cognition in

ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report

Brian M. Sandroff, MS; Elizabeth A. Hubbard, MS; Lara A. Pilutti, PhD; Robert W. Motl, PhD

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Sandroff BM, Hubbard MS, Pilutti LA, Motl RW. No association between body composition and cognition in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(3):XX-XX.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208JSP

• Aim– Investigate the associations between measures of body

composition and domains of cognitive function in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

• Relevance

– Evidence suggests body fat is inversely associated with cognitive functioning.

– This association might further be augmented in presence of immune-mediated, inflammatory disease such as MS.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Sandroff BM, Hubbard MS, Pilutti LA, Motl RW. No association between body composition and cognition in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(3):XX-XX.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208JSP

Method• Cross-sectional study investigating associations between

objective measures of body composition and cognitive function in 60 persons with MS.

• Following tests performed:– Neurological examination for Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.– Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

neuropsychological battery for measurement of cognitive processing speed, verbal learning and memory, and visual learning and memory.

– Whole-body fat mass, percent body fat, lean body mass, and bone mineral density measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Sandroff BM, Hubbard MS, Pilutti LA, Motl RW. No association between body composition and cognition in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(3):XX-XX.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208JSP

Results• Whole-body fat mass and percent body fat not

associated with any cognitive outcome.• Lean body mass associated with cognitive

processing speed and bone mineral density associated with cognitive processing speed and verbal learning and memory.− Associations attenuated and nonsignificant after

controlling for age and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Sandroff BM, Hubbard MS, Pilutti LA, Motl RW. No association between body composition and cognition in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis: A brief report. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(3):XX-XX.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0208JSP

Conclusion

• Body composition might not represent a target of interventions for improving cognitive processing speed or learning and memory in MS.