Work

Accelerated long-term forgetting as an objective marker of subjective memory impairment in multiple sclerosis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF), defined as an increased rate of memory loss over extended intervals, has so far been detected in a pilot study of patients with mild multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to (I) confirm the presence of ALF in a larger, heterogeneous MS sample, (II) explore associations with patient-reported outcomes, and (III) assess the diagnostic performance of ALF tests for subjective memory impairment. Methods This study compared 62 MS patients and 65 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls using standardized memory tests (RAVLT, WMS-IV Logical Memory subtest). Recall was assessed immediately, after 30 min, and after 7 days. Seven-day/30-minute recall ratios (Q RAVLT , Q WMS ) served as primary outcomes. Self-report measures included memory complaints, fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Spearman correlations and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses assessed associations and diagnostic accuracy. Results ALF was observed in multiple sclerosis since Q RAVLT was lower in patients than in controls (0.64 [95% CI 0.59–0.69] vs. 0.78 [0.73–0.82], p < 0.001), as was Q WMS (0.79 [95% CI 0.74–0.84] vs. 0.95 [0.90–1.00], p < 0.001), despite comparable initial learning. Greater fatigue, higher memory complaints, sleep disturbances, older age, and greater disability were associated with lower ALF scores. The combined ALF score moderately discriminated subjective memory impairment (AUC 0.74; sensitivity 0.73; specificity 0.73). Conclusion MS patients showed ALF despite normal initial learning, indicating a specific memory deficit undetected by standard tests. Long-delay recall using RAVLT and WMS-IV Logical Memory subtest may improve cognitive impairment detection in MS. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00035204), registered 17 April 2025.

Source: Neurological Research and Practice

DOI: 10.1186/s42466-026-00527-y

Authors: Christina Jansen, Johannes Stalter, Sigrid Reuter, Karsten Witt

Institutions: Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg

Language: English

Topic: Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,190