BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS). Progressive aerobic exercise (PAE) represents a promising approach toward preservation or even improvement of cognitive performance in people with MS (pwMS). OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of PAE on the cognitive domains of information processing, learning and memory, and verbal fluency in pwMS. METHODS This randomized controlled trial included an exercise (n = 43, 24 weeks of supervised PAE, followed by self-guided physical activity) and a waitlist group (n = 43, 24 weeks of habitual lifestyle, followed by supervised PAE). Assessments included the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological tests (BRB-N), self-reported mood, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Published reference data were used to compute Z-scores for BRB-N scores. Cognitive impairment was defined as one or more Z-scores ⩽ -1.5SD. RESULTS No between-group changes in the total group were observed in BRB-N scores following PAE. In the cognitively impaired subgroup (43% of the total group) the between-group point estimate suggested a potential clinical relevant improvement in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (95% CI overlapping zero). Cardiorespiratory fitness increased in the total group and the cognitively impaired subgroup. CONCLUSION In the present representative MS group, 24 weeks of supervised PAE had no effect on any cognitive domain in the total group but potentially improved processing speed in the cognitively impaired subgroup.

中文翻译：

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高强度有氧运动对多发性硬化症患者认知能力的影响：一项随机对照试验

背景认知障碍在多发性硬化症(MS)中非常普遍。渐进式有氧运动 (PAE) 代表了一种很有前途的方法，可以保护甚至改善 MS (pwMS) 患者的认知能力。目的 研究 PAE 对 pwMS 信息处理、学习和记忆以及语言流畅性等认知领域的影响。方法 这项随机对照试验包括一项运动（n = 43, 24 周的监督 PAE，然后是自我指导的体育活动）和一个等候名单组（n = 43, 24 周的习惯生活方式，然后是监督 PAE）。评估包括简短的可重复神经心理学测试组 (BRB-N)、自我报告的情绪和心肺健康。已发布的参考数据用于计算 BRB-N 分数的 Z 分数。认知障碍被定义为一个或多个 Z 分数⩽ -1.5SD。结果 在 PAE 后，在 BRB-N 评分中未观察到整个组的组间变化。在认知障碍亚组（占总组的 43%）中，组间点估计表明符号数字模式测试（95% CI 与零重叠）有潜在的临床相关改进。总组和认知障碍亚组的心肺健康增加。结论 在目前具有代表性的 MS 组中，24 周的监督 PAE 对整个组的任何认知领域都没有影响，但可能提高了认知受损亚组的处理速度。在认知障碍亚组（占总组的 43%）中，组间点估计表明符号数字模式测试（95% CI 与零重叠）有潜在的临床相关改进。总组和认知障碍亚组的心肺健康增加。结论 在目前具有代表性的 MS 组中，24 周的监督 PAE 对整个组的任何认知领域都没有影响，但可能提高了认知受损亚组的处理速度。在认知障碍亚组（占总组的 43%）中，组间点估计表明符号数字模式测试（95% CI 与零重叠）有潜在的临床相关改进。总组和认知障碍亚组的心肺健康增加。结论 在目前具有代表性的 MS 组中，24 周的监督 PAE 对整个组的任何认知领域都没有影响，但可能提高了认知受损亚组的处理速度。