BALLER LAB
Investigating Mood and Cognition in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long, immune-mediated neurological disorder that affects one million people in the United States. Up to 50% of patients with MS experience depression, yet the mechanisms of depression in MS remain under-investigated. MS is characterized by white matter lesions, suggesting that brain network disruption may underly depression symptoms. However, structured assessments of mood and cognition are rarely performed, thus it is currently unknown how lesions and the networks they disrupt are linked to specific domains of clinical psychopathology and cognition. We have previously shown that white matter lesions are associated with depression in a retrospective analysis by linking data from the electronic health record with structural imaging obtained as part of routine clinical care. The purpose of this study is to delineate the relationship between mood and cognition to brain lesions by performing structured assessments of persons undergoing 3T scanning as part of their clinical care.
About Our Ongoing Study
Our study seeks to better understand the relationship between multiple sclerosis and depression. We are currently recruiting patients with MS diagnoses for a single four-hour study visit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During the visit, participants complete some puzzle-like games and tests on the computer and are asked about their mental health history. We study the data collected during the visit in addition to information about our participants' MS history gathered from their clinical MRI scans.
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For more information about how our study aims to help improve patient care, click here
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For more information about the NIH grant Prof. Baller was awarded to fund this study, click here
Cognitive Testing
This study utilizes a battery of cognitive tests to help us better understand how MS affects the brain. These tests are a great way to gauge how damage to certain brain areas can impact patients with MS from day-to-day.
Clinical Interview
The study also includes a clinical interview that asks participants about their mental health history. This interview provides with information that helps clarify how patients' mood may have been impacted by MS.
