Biomedical subjects

Michael Tinnefeld

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Tinnefeld.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Attention and memory dysfunctions in mild multiple sclerosis.

This study investigated the relationship between clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Cognitive dysfunction and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were studied in patients free of physical disability and mildly to moderately disabled patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Disability-free patients (EDSS < or = 1.5; n = 13), mildly to moderately disabled patients (EDSS ranging from 2 to 6; n = 13) and a healthy matched control group (n = 16) were examined with respect to attention, verbal and nonverbal memory and early visual processing (VEPs). Disability-free patients showed mild impairments on phasic alertness and divided attention. Deficits were more pronounced in mildly to moderately disabled patients who were additionally impaired with respect to non-verbal memory. Despite adequate visual acuity, one half of all patients showed abnormal VEP latencies for both eyes at the same time. The findings suggest that cognitive deficits are already present in multiple sclerosis even in the absence of physical disability. Even with normal visual acuity, perceptual impairments should be considered as part of the CNS affection.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The influence of immunomodulation on psycho-neuroimmunological functions in benign multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: In multiple sclerosis (MS), several neuroimmunomodulatory effectors are known, including melatonin. They are able to influence disease-related neurophysiogical changes (disability or impaired vision) as well as neuropsychological performance (e.g. cognition and depression). In this study we assessed the relationship between immunomodulation on psycho-neuroimmunological functions in benign multiple sclerosis. METHODS: We evaluated 26 young female patients with benign MS treated with/without immunomodulating therapies with regard to their physical disabilities (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), their visually evoked potentials (VEP), their plasma melatonin concentrations as well as their performance regarding emotional and cognitive tests and compared them with healthy matched controls. RESULTS: Patients with MS showed deficits in cognitive and emotional functions compared to healthy controls, which were in accordance with their increase in EDSS over time. However, in contrast to untreated patients, patients receiving immunotherapy showed significantly increased dysfunction with respect to actual mood (p = 0.02) and a tendency to increased depression scores (p = 0.072). However, neither treatment subgroup had cognitive deficits. In untreated patients, melatonin levels correlated with reduced scores in the cognitive tests (p = 0.045) but not with depression or VEP latencies. Patients with long-standing MS (>10 years) showed a significant correlation (p = 0.01) to their increased depression scores and their melatonin levels, but no correlation with VEP or cognitive dysfunction, compared to patients with shorter disease duration (< or =10 years). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in MS all aspects of the psycho-neuroimmunological network can be affected. Despite the potential influence of immunomodulation on depression, no connection with melatonin representing the retinohypothalamic tract/pineal gland circuits could be detected. However, visual perception as well as visuoconstructive abilities were affected in MS patients. Neuropsychological tests in MS should concentrate on cognitive variables, which reflect the clinical status more accurately and may be used to monitor disease-modifying therapies.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Depression and cognitive impairment in disability-free early multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive and emotional capabilities were evaluated in 73 female patients with stable relapsing-remitting definite, and/or laboratory-supported multiple sclerosis (MS) and were compared with 32 matched healthy controls. Patients were categorized according to their score in the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) to either no (EDSS 0, n = 33) or few clinical signs (EDSS 1-2, n = 40) of MS without physical disability. Patients with EDSS > 0 were characterized by significantly (p < 0.001) higher scores on "von Zerssen's" depression scale, compared to controls. Patients with higher EDSS scores (1-2) showed significantly decreased performance with respect to the total score of Kimura's Recurring-Figures-Test (p < 0.001), in addition. Regarding visuo-constructive functioning, patients with EDSS=0 performed to a significantly lower level (p < 0.001), compared to controls. These results indicate that depression may present as an early sign in MS followed by cognitive impairment, in particular visuo-spatial short-term memory, before physical disability appears. Neuropsychological tests as mentioned here could serve as early diagnostic tools to detect subtle disease progression and to initiate and monitor disease modifying therapies.

Adolescent↗