Postural Sway and Brain Activity in MS Patients vs. Healthy Controls
In a study with 7 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 7 healthy controls, MS patients showed greater postural sway during balance tasks and a more significant decrease in brain activity (theta, alpha, beta power) under task conditions compared to healthy controls.
- Tags
- #MSResearch
- Most relevant to
- —
- Human efficacy
- Not yet assessed
- Mechanism
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence strength
- Not yet assessed
- Outcome
- Not yet assessed
Why it matters
These findings suggest that MS patients may depend more on visual cues for balance, indicating altered brain mechanisms during balance tasks, which could inform future research on balance and cognitive-motor interactions in MS.
What this does not prove
The study's small sample size may inflate the measured effects, and it did not find a consistent difference in resting-state EEG between the groups. Hence, results are preliminary.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Observational
- Participants / samples
- 14 · 7 individuals with MS and 7 healthy controls
- Randomised
- Not reported
- Controlled
- Not reported
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-09-30
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
Original sources
- Primary evidenceIncreased visual reliance for postural control in multiple sclerosis: preliminary evidence from task-related cortical desynchronization. ↗DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1882165
Supporting passages (10)
study phaseThis exploratory study investigated how postural demands modulate brain activity in MS.
study designThis exploratory study investigated how postural demands modulate brain activity in MS.
subjectsMETHODS: Seven individuals with MS (mean age: 51.1 ± 9.7 years; 5 women; median Expanded Disability Status Scale: 5.5, IQR: 4.5-6.0) and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age: 51.0 ± 9.6 years) performed three static balance tasks on a force plate: quiet stance with eyes open, quiet stance with eyes closed, and narrow stance with eyes open.
sample sizeMETHODS: Seven individuals with MS (mean age: 51.1 ± 9.7 years; 5 women; median Expanded Disability Status Scale: 5.5, IQR: 4.5-6.0) and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age: 51.0 ± 9.6 years) performed three static balance tasks on a force plate: quiet stance with eyes open, quiet stance with eyes closed, and narrow stance with eyes open.
sample size basisMETHODS: Seven individuals with MS (mean age: 51.1 ± 9.7 years; 5 women; median Expanded Disability Status Scale: 5.5, IQR: 4.5-6.0) and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age: 51.0 ± 9.6 years) performed three static balance tasks on a force plate: quiet stance with eyes open, quiet stance with eyes closed, and narrow stance with eyes open.
peer reviewedJournal: Frontiers in neurology
publication datePublication date: 2026-09-30
comparatorMETHODS: Seven individuals with MS (mean age: 51.1 ± 9.7 years; 5 women; median Expanded Disability Status Scale: 5.5, IQR: 4.5-6.0) and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age: 51.0 ± 9.6 years) performed three static balance tasks on a force plate: quiet stance with eyes open, quiet stance with eyes closed, and narrow stance with eyes open.
findingsCONCLUSION: These preliminary findings are consistent with an increased reliance on visual information for postural control in MS, accompanied by a task-related cortical desynchronization specifically upon visual deprivation.
limitationsThe observed effect sizes, while likely subject to inflation given the small sample size, suggest that oscillatory EEG parameters warrant investigation in larger confirmatory studies.
AI assessment, not yet reviewed by a person · version 1 · Community votes are separate from evidence review.