Mobility and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: Physical Activity and Exercise Training as Rehabilitation Therapy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, progressive, often disabling, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects approximately 2.8 million people worldwide. Currently, there is a greater number of older adults living with MS than ever before. This growing number of older adults with MS undergoes age-related declines in physical and cognitive functioning that appear to be compounded by the disease and its progression. This chapter aims at describing: (i) the first line of treatment for MS; (ii) mobility and cognitive function in older adults with MS; (iii) physical activity and exercise training as adjuvant rehabilitative therapy to improve mobility and cognitive function in older adults with MS; and (iv) common tests used to assess mobility/walking ability and cognitive function in MS. To accomplish these goals, the current scientific literature was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized.