Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33269758›Full record

ArticleNeural regeneration research2021

A network-based cognitive training induces cognitive improvements and neuroplastic changes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: an exploratory case-control study.

Riccardo Manca, Micaela Mitolo, Iain D Wilkinson, David Paling, Basil Sharrack, Annalena Venneri

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neural regeneration research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06278818 (Neural and Clinical Correlates of Rehabilitation in Neurodegenerative Conditions), which is not on this map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06278818 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Neural and Clinical Correlates of Rehabilitation in Neurodegenerative Conditions

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of PaviaRan2023 to 2026Enrolled110ConditionsMild Cognitive ImpairmentArmsCognitive Telerehabilitation, Control Condition
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Virtual reality for multiple sclerosis rehabilitation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Riccardo MancaDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Micaela MitoloDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Diagnostica Funzionale Neuroradiologica, Bologna, Italy.
Iain D WilkinsonAcademic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
David PalingDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield; Academic Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
Basil SharrackAcademic Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
Annalena VenneriDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cognitive impairments are commonly observed in patients with multiple sclerosis and are associated with lower levels of quality of life. No consensus has been reached on how to tackle effectively cognitive decline in this clinical population non-pharmacologically. This exploratory case-control study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a hypothesis-based cognitive training designed to target multiple domains by promoting the synchronous co-activation of different brain areas and thereby improve cognition and induce changes in functional connectivity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Forty-five patients (36 females and 9 males, mean age 44.62 ± 8.80 years) with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were assigned to either a standard cognitive training or to control groups (sham training and non-active control). The standard training included twenty sessions of computerized exercises involving various cognitive functions supported by distinct brain networks. The sham training was a modified version of the standard training that comprised the same exercises and number of sessions but with increased processing speed load. The non-active control group received no cognitive training. All patients underwent comprehensive neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging assessments at baseline and after 5 weeks. Cognitive and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using repeated measures models. At reassessment, the standard training group showed significant cognitive improvements compared to both control groups in memory tasks not specifically targeted by the training: the Buschke Selective Reminding Test and the Semantic Fluency test. The standard training group showed reductions in functional connectivity of the salience network, in the anterior cingulate cortex, associated with improvements on the Buschke Selective Reminding Test. No changes were observed in the sham training group. These findings suggest that multi-domain training that stimulates multiple brain areas synchronously may improve cognition in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis if sufficient time to process training material is allowed. The associated reduction in functional connectivity of the salience network suggests that training-induced neuroplastic functional reorganization may be the mechanism supporting performance gains. This study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of Yorkshire and Humber (approval No. 12/YH/0474) on November 20, 2013.

Indexed as

cognitive trainingmagnetic resonance imagingmultiple sclerosisneuroplasticityneuropsychologyrehabilitationsalience network

Identifiers

PMID33269758
PMCPMC8224115

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.