The first symptoms to come to mind at the mention of multiple sclerosis (MS) are likely to be walking difficulty, vision problems, and increased fatigue. During the past 25 years, many therapies that effectively reduce these symptoms have been introduced. These therapeutic successes have enabled researchers and neurologists to focus on an aspect of MS that sometimes has been overlooked: cognitive symptoms.

During the past few decades, research has made clear that multiple sclerosis causes not only physical disability but also cognitive problems.

Multiple sclerosis patients who are young, male and have mild disability are more likely to be employed, based on a recent analysis of multiple sclerosis registries across North America, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The way Frederick W. Foley, PhD, sees it, screening for cognitive problems in patients with multiple sclerosis has been taking a back seat to other routine clinical assessments largely because the deficits aren’t obvious in a typical clinical examination.

“I can’t do that, I have MS.” Those are the seven words Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN, typically hears when she initially suggests yoga classes to her patients with multiple sclerosis. Her response to their protests is simple: “Yes, you can.”