Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a common autoimmune disorder. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients may experience cognitive impairments such as memory problems, even after receiving LT4-monotherapy. This...Show moreHashimoto’s thyroiditis is a common autoimmune disorder. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients may experience cognitive impairments such as memory problems, even after receiving LT4-monotherapy. This study investigates the memory performance of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients with residual symptoms after receiving LT4 monotherapy, utilizing participants from the T3-4 Hypo Trial. Memory performance was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) 15-Word Task and the data were compared to normative data from the Advanced Neuropsychological Diagnostics Infrastructure Norms (ANDI-Norms). Results indicate that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients do not significantly perform different to the general population. This study investigated whether age and sex are potential predictors of memory performance. These factors showed no significant results suggesting that they are not related to memory performance. However, this study does highlight limitations such as possible comorbidity, uneven distribution of sex and education levels that need consideration. Future research is advised to better understand the complex relationship between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and cognitive function. This study contributes to the broader understanding of the relationship between cognitive function and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and underscores the need for future research to develop effective and/or improve existing clinical management strategies.Show less
Objective. To determine the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program including physical exercise, in improving cognition, participation, and coping in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)...Show moreObjective. To determine the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program including physical exercise, in improving cognition, participation, and coping in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Secondary, it was aimed to identify the role of clinical characteristics in the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program. Methods. A longitudinal pilot intervention study was performed, with measurements before the start (T0), after three months (T1), and after six months (T2). Cognition was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, participation with the Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire, and coping with the Utrecht Proactive Coping Competence Scale. Generalized Estimating Equation analyses were performed. Results. A total of 19 patients with SAH participated; 13 in the intervention group and 6 in the control group. For the intervention group, cognition improved between T0 and T2 and between T1 and T2. Participation declined between T0 and T1, but improved between T1 and T2. Proactive coping declined between T0 and T2 and between T1 and T2. Cognition of the control group did not change, but participation improved between T0 and T1 and proactive coping declined between T0 and T1. There was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in improvements in cognition between T0 and T1 (p = 0.090). However, there was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups in changes in participation between T0 and T1 (p = 0.001) and in changes in coping between T0 and T1 (p < 0.001). The location of SAH played a role in the differences in participation, but not in cognition and coping. For treatment type and time since SAH, no significant effects were found. Conclusion. There was no effect of the rehabilitation program on cognition. The control group had a better participation level after three months and the intervention group worsened. The intervention group had a stable coping style after three months, whereas the control group declined in the use of proactive coping. Only the characteristic location of the aneurysm played a role in the participation level after three months, but not in cognition or coping. The other characteristics did not play a role in the changes. This study indicates that some long-term complaints can improve after the rehabilitation program, but more research is needed.Show less
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects an estimate of 2.8 million people worldwide. Fatigue, impairments in processing speed, and depression are...Show moreMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects an estimate of 2.8 million people worldwide. Fatigue, impairments in processing speed, and depression are common symptoms reported by People with MS (PwMS). However, the relationship between these symptoms is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate this relationship and examine the (in)stability of fatigue levels over time in PwMS. The study utilized a longitudinal, retrospective cohort design and included participants diagnosed with MS (n= 141) who attended a specialized clinic in Overpelt, Belgium. Seventy-three percent of the sample was female, with a mean age of 51.88 (SD ±13.46). The average disease duration was of 16.94 years (SD ± 8.86), and a majority of the sample had the relapsing-remitting type of MS (RRMS) (n= 43). The median of disease severity, as measured by the EDSS, was of 3.50 (IQR – 3.5). The study hypothesized that fatigue levels would increase over time and that depression would moderate the relationship between fatigue and processing speed. Fatigue levels did not significantly change over time (p = 0.055). A significant relationship was found between fatigue and processing speed impairment (p < 0.05). However, depression did not significantly moderate this relationship (p = 0.215). These findings show that cognitive symptoms may influence each other in MS. Future research should look into the relationship of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and cognitive impairment in PwMS.Show less
