Comparison of Cognitive Rehabilitation versus Donepezil Therapy on Memory Performance, Attention, Quality of Life, and Depression among Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Table 1

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics.

	CR n = 20	Control n = 20	Donepezil n = 20	Placebo n = 20	value
Demographic characteristics
Age, mean ± SD (years)	32.2 ± 8.4	30.6 ± 7.0	31.6 ± 6.8	30.7 ± 7.4	0.89
Education, n (%)
High school	2 (10)	3 (15)	3 (15)	1 (5)	0.810
Bachelors	15 (75)	11 (55)	13 (65)	14 (70)
Postgraduates	3 (15)	6 (30)	4 (20)	5 (25)
Disease characteristics
EDSS, mean ± SD	2.67 ± 1.31	2.55 ± 1.39	2.75 ± 1.14	2.62 ± 1.32	0.969
MS subtypes, n (%)
RRMS	16 (80)	17 (85)	17 (85)	18 (90)	0.911
SPMS	2 (10)	3 (15)	2 (10)	2 (10)
PPMS	2 (10)	0 (0)	1 (5)	0 (0)
Disease duration, mean ± SD (years)	7.20 ± 4.21	6.65 ± 3.56	6.85 ± 3.56	5.90 ± 3.27	0.697
Disease-modifying agents, n (%)					0.875
Interferon beta	15 (75)	17 (85)	16 (80)	17 (85)
Fingolimod	3 (15)	2 (10)	3 (15)	3 (15)
Rituximab	2 (10)	1 (5)	1 (5)	0 (0)
Annualized relapse rate, n (%)					0.983
0	14 (70)	16 (80)	15 (75)	16 (80)
1	4 (20)	3 (15)	4 (20)	3 (15)
2	2 (10)	1 (5)	1 (5)	1 (5)
Dominant symptoms
Motor symptoms	9 (45)	7 (35)	8 (40)	8 (40)	0.989
Balance symptoms	4 (20)	4 (20)	4 (20)	3 (15)
Sensory symptoms	3 (15)	4 (20)	4 (20)	4 (20)
Sphincter symptoms	2 (10)	2 (10)	2 (10)	1 (5)
Visual symptoms	2 (10)	3 (15)	2 (10)	4 (20)

SD: standard deviation; CR: cognitive rehabilitation, MS: multiple sclerosis, EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; RR: relapsing remitting; SP: secondary progressive; PP: primary progressive.