Naming and verbal fluency in patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

This investigative research work is developed through a cross-sectional and correlational study. The objective was to investigate the functioning of language through naming ability and verbal fluency in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neuropsychological assessments were performed in 42 patients with Multiple Sclerosis and 30 participants in the control group. The results allow the following statements: verbal fluency, both phonological and semantic, is compromised in patients with multiple sclerosis, the naming ability is not affected in these patients; although Multiple Sclerosis compromises verbal fluency, it does not necessarily compromise memory and intelligence; there is a close relationship between fluency deficits and reduced speed of information processing; the gender variable does not interfere in cognitive performance in those patients; the education variable does not interfere in the cognitive performance, except in the Vocabulary subtest.