Results of a recent study suggest a bidirectional relationship of anxiety and processing speed on verbal learning in multiple sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, anxiety has a significant impact upon cognition and should not be overlooked and therefore, interventions targeting anxiety may be able to improve cognition in MS. Participants (n=141) had a diagnosis of clinically definite MS and had participated in neuropsychological research projects at an MS center in Teaneck, NJ. Researchers found:

• Processing speed was a uniquely significant predictor of verbal learning (β = .55, ΔR² = .27).
• Anxiety was also a uniquely significant predictor of verbal learning (β = −.34, ΔR² = .11).
• 2 separate mediation analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between processing speed, verbal learning, and anxiety.
• There was a significant indirect effect of anxiety on verbal learning through processing speed, ab = −0.31.
• There was also a significant indirect effect of processing speed on verbal learning through anxiety, ab = −0.05.