The practice effect of smartphone-derived cognitive processing speed assessments as a proxy of cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

In multiple sclerosis (MS), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) scores are often influenced by practice effects. We evaluated the SDMT practice effect as a proxy of cognitive performance by relating it to disease severity and future performance.

METHODS

People with MS (pwMS) and healthy controls (HCs) were evaluated at baseline and five-year follow-up. Practice effects were modeled using two-part piecewise linear regression on daily smartphone SDMT (sSDMT) scores. Cognitive impairment (CI) and preservation (CP) were defined relative to HC baseline sSDMT z-scores (CI: z < -1.67, CP: z ≥ -1.67). Practice outcomes across HC/CP/CI were compared using ANCOVA and correlated to baseline variables. They were also assessed in relation to clinical outcomes and brain volumes in cross-sectional and baseline-follow-up models.

RESULTS

85 pwMS (CP/CI: 66/19) and 20 HCs were analyzed. 73 pwMS completed follow-up (5.39 ± 0.38y). A practice plateau occurred in 80%/82%/100% of HC/CI/CP. Higher baseline sSDMT was related to higher plateau sSDMT (ρ = 0.930, p < 0.001) and lower %-increase (ρ = -0.266, p = 0.013). %-increase was higher in CI than CP (CI/CP = 22.0%/15.5 adj.p = 0.004), but the absolute ∆-increase and breakpoint were similar across groups. Associations of disability, cognition, and brain volumes with the plateau sSDMT were stronger when compared to the baseline sSDMT. No other associations were found cross-sectionally and in the baseline-follow-up models.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-phase sSDMT practice effects were related to cognitive performance but were unique to disease status or associated with disease severity in pwMS. Plateau sSDMT showed stronger associations with disability and brain volumes than baseline performance. Interpretation of SDMT performance should therefore consider practice effects.