The Influence of Cognitive and Postural Dysfunction on Quality of Life in Individuals with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review

Background:  Cognitive impairment, postural instability, and reduced quality of life are commonly observed in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS), leading to substantial limitations in daily functioning and independence.
Objective: This narrative review was done to explore the existing literature on the interrelationship between cognitive function, postural control, and quality of life in individuals with RR-MS.
Methods: Electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were utilized to do an extensive literature searching. The search focused on articles published between July 2016 and January 2025. The following keywords and their combinations were used: “Multiple sclerosis”, “Relapsing-remitting MS”, “Cognitive function”, “Postural control”, and “Quality of life”. Boolean operators (AND, OR) were applied to enhance the search. Studies were involved in the review if they fulfill the subsequent criteria: Published in English, involved participants diagnosed with RR-MS, reported outcomes related to cognitive function, postural control, and/or quality of life, included peer-reviewed research articles. The following types of studies were excluded: Conference abstracts, case reports, editorials, and opinion pieces, studies involving pediatric populations or non-RR-MS subtypes unless directly relevant, non-English language publications.
Results: Individuals with RR-MS often experience deficits in postural control and cognitive function, with concurrent cognitive and postural tasks potentially causing mutual interference, particularly when postural control is compromised
Conclusion: Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis significantly affects daily living activities. Prioritizing motor retraining and gradually integrating cognitive tasks enhances rehabilitation outcomes. Further research is warranted to establish standardized intervention protocols and to evaluate the long-term efficacy of combined motor-cognitive rehabilitation approaches.