Reading,writing,and reserve: Literacy activities are linked to hippocampal volume and memory in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background:

Engagement in cognitive leisure activities during early adulthood has been linked to preserved memory and larger hippocampal volume in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective:

To investigate which specific types of cognitive leisure activities contribute to hippocampal volume and memory.

Methods:

We investigated links between three types of cognitive activities (Reading-Writing, Art-Music, Games-Hobbies) and (a) hippocampal volume within independent samples of Italian (n=187) and American (n=55) MS patients and (b) memory in subsamples of Italian (n=97) and American (n=53) patients.

Results:

Reading-Writing was the only predictor of hippocampal volume (rp=.204, p=.002), and the best predictor of memory (rp=.288, p=.001).

Conclusions:

Findings inform the development of targeted evidence-based enrichment programs aiming to bolster reserve against memory decline.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis cognitive reserve enriched environments hippocampal volume neurogenesis

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