FLORENCE, Italy, September 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis is expressed
 in the clinical course of the disease in 43-70% of cases.
It affects 1/3rd of school-aged patients

The leading international experts in the field of neurological research for multiple sclerosis gathered in Florence for the event sponsored by Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF) to discuss the correct clinical management of cognitive disorders caused by the disease.

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The event, "Cognition Disorders in MS", was produced with the scientific contribution of Professor Maria Pia Amato from the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences of the University of Florence, along with Professor Giancarlo Comi from the Experimental Neurology Institute Vita Salute San Raffaele at the University of Milan.

"It's erroneous and quite simplistic to maintain that multiple sclerosis is debilitating to the physical and motor functions alone," said Professor Amato. "Clinically, cognitive disorders are common and can be highly disabling."

"It's surprising how, up until now, so little attention has been paid to the range of symptoms and the effects of the drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis," added Professor Comi. "Especially now that we have much more powerful drugs," he concluded, "it becomes increasingly important to assess their impact and identify the most suitable treatment for the specific case."

"Quite often," said Professor Amato, "patients suffering from the cognitive disorders typical of multiple sclerosis are forced to miss work because of difficulties in completing their tasks, especially when they involve memory impairment - the most frequent symptom - and disturbances in attention or concentration."

"As a promoter of Continuing Medical Education, SSIF offers its knowledge on an international level," noted Professor Comi, who is also President of the Scientific Committee of SSIF, "and we are very proud to bring together on this level the top experts in neurology and multiple sclerosis research, and to contribute to the debate from the perspective of clinical practices, with the goal of  identifying the most appropriate treatments for this disease."

Serono Symposia International Foundation

Serono Symposia International Foundation is a non-profit global organization dedicated to the Continuing Medical Education (CME) of healthcare professionals.

SOURCE Serono Symposia