Cognitive and Cardiovascular Response in MS: A Study of Ten Patients
A study examined how cognitive function, measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and cardiovascular responses during cycling differed between ten people with relapsing-remitting MS (PwMS) and ten healthy participants. PwMS had lower SDMT scores and exhibited higher systolic blood pressure during cycling, with an observed effect on both measures between groups.
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- #MSResearch
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Why it matters
These findings highlight potential cognitive and cardiovascular differences in PwMS compared to healthy individuals, suggesting avenues for further research into how exercise may affect these domains.
What this does not prove
Due to the small sample size and wide confidence intervals, the study does not provide definitive conclusions about exercise-specific effects or the relationship between cardiovascular and cognitive function in MS.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Observational
- Participants / samples
- Not reported
- Randomised
- No
- Controlled
- Yes
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-09-17
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
Original sources
- Primary evidenceCardiovascular-Cognitive Associations During Physiological Challenges in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. ↗DOI: 10.3390/diseases14090343
Supporting passages (11)
study phaseOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
study designOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
subjectsOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
sample size basisOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
randomizedOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
controlledOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
peer reviewedOBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined IPS and cardiovascular responses in ten people with MS (PwMS), all of whom had relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), and ten age- and sex-matched healthy participants during four acute physiologic challenges: head-up tilt, head-down tilt, isometric handgrip, and aerobic cycling.
primary endpointIPS was assessed using the oral SDMT.
findingsBaseline SDMT scores were lower in PwMS than in healthy participants (p < 0.05).
limitationsHowever, the small sample size and wide confidence intervals preclude firm conclusions regarding an exercise-specific effect or differences in cardiovascular-cognitive coupling.
publication datePublication date: 2026-09-17
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