Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test Battery: Stephen Rao, PhD, ABPP-Cn

“Several years ago, we developed the Multiple Sclerosis performance tests battery. This is a completely automated system delivered to patients on an iPad... It's now been administered in 50 medical centers. It started off in Cleveland Clinic, now 50 plus centers use this test.”

Data from a recent study presented at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, April 17-22, suggest that significant practice effects (PE) exist with several facets of the multiple sclerosis performance test (MSPT) battery.

Researchers found that the Processing Speed Test (PST; average increase, 3 points; P <.001) and Manual Dexterity Test (MDT; average decrease, 1 second; P = .005) showed significant PE. Walking speed test (WST) scores did not show significant PE (P = .07). Larger PE was seen with younger patients (P <.001), patients with fewer self-reported depression symptoms (P <.001), and patients with lower baseline Patient Determined Disease Steps (P <.001) after Bonferroni correction.

NeurologyLive spoke with senior author Stephen Rao, PhD, ABPP-Cn, Ralph and Luci Schey Chair and Director, Schey Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Cleveland Clinic, to learn more about the MSPT battery. He outlined the PST, MDT, and WST, and discussed the prevalence of the MSPT in clinical practice.

For more coverage of AAN 2021, click here.

REFERENCE

Liao S, de Moor C, Williams JR, Fisher E, Rao S. Real-world practice effects and effect modifiers of neuroperformance tests in Multiple Sclerosis Partners Advancing Technology and Health Solutions (MS PATHS). Presented at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 17-22 Abstract P15 037.