Home-based EXergames To impRovE cognitive function in MUltiple Sclerosis (EXTREMUS).

Abstract

Background: Motor and cognitive dysfunctions are common and disabling features in multiple sclerosis (MS) that remain challenging to treat. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of exergames as a stand-alone approach for people with MS and impaired processing speed.

Methods: This was a three-arm, randomised, rater-blinded, sham-controlled trial. People with MS and impaired processing speed were randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio to an 8-week home-based training with exergames (intervention of interest), adaptive Cognitive Training Kit (COGNI-TRAcK) (working memory training as comparator intervention) or sham intervention. A postintervention assessment was scheduled at week 16 postrandomisation. Statistical analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses that exergames were superior to sham intervention and non-inferior to adaptive COGNI-TRAcK on the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT).

Results: We screened 165 people with MS, of whom 102 were randomised (34 per arm). At week 8, both exergames and adaptive COGNI-TRAcK yielded improvements in SDMT, with adjusted mean differences versus sham intervention of 4.3 (95% CI 0.1 to 8.5) and 5.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 10.1) points, respectively. The non-inferiority analysis was inconclusive, as the mean between-arm difference (adaptive COGNI-TRAcK versus exergames) was 1.3 points (90% CI -1.7 to 4.3), crossing the predefined non-inferiority margin of 4 SDMT points. Exergames additionally demonstrated benefits on executive function, dynamic balance, fatigue and reduced work absenteeism. None of these benefits was retained at week 16.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that home-based exergames are suitable as a standalone approach to improve some specific MS-related cognitive and motor dysfunctions, but there is no evidence about their non-inferiority to working memory training.

Trial registration number: NCT04169750.