Longitudinal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Patients with Non-relapsing MOG-IgG Associated Disease

Background: Non-relapsing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (nr-MOGAD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that frequently affects younger populations. The longitudinal impact of nr-MOGAD on cognitive function remains poorly characterized.

Objectives: To investigate cognitive profiles and longitudinal cognitive changes in patients with nr-MOGAD compared to individuals with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (pwRRMS) and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: A cohort of 8 nr-MOGAD patients, 32 pwRRMS patients, and 22 HCs underwent a baseline and a 12-month follow-up assessment with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN) and Stroop test.

Results: At baseline, nr-MOGAD patients exhibited moderate cognitive deficits, particularly in verbal memory and processing speed domains, with scores intermediate between pwRRMS and HCs. At follow-up, nr-MOGAD patients, especially those with pediatric-onset, showed significant cognitive recovery, contrasting with the stable impairments observed in pwRRMS.

Conclusions: Cognitive impairment patterns in nr-MOGAD are distinct from those observed in pwRRMS and, particularly in younger patients, show a frequent reversal unlike pwRRMS, in which persistently impaired cognitive performances are much more common.