Can Cognitive İmpairment Be Observed İndependently Of Neurological Symptoms İn Behçet's Disease?;

Abstract

Purpose: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystem inflammatory disorder that causes mortality and morbidity. Despite data indicating cognitive impairment in patients without neurological involvement, there is currently no consensus on how to screen patients. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) is a practical, easy-to-use screening scale that can detect mild cognitive impairment. We aimed to detect cognitive dysfunction with MOCA in BD without neurological findings. Materials and methods: This prospective study included patients diagnosed with BD without neurological findings, and healthy individuals matched for age, gender, and education. Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was applied to determine disease activity, and MOCA was applied to all participants. Results: The total score of the MOCA scale was significantly lower in Behçet's patients than in the control group (p=0.001). While no difference was found between BD and controls in terms of MOCA subtests ‘‘Orientation’’ and ‘‘Abstraction’’ (p=0.667, p=0.077, respectively), scores in other subtests were significantly lower in patients. A negative correlation was found between BDCAF scores and total MOCA scores (r=-0.454, p=0.000). A positive correlation was found between total MOCA score and years of education (r=0.345, p=0.000). Conclusion: In BD, a decrease in cognitive functions may exist without neurological involvement. Cognitive screening of patients with BD is crucial for detecting subclinical inflammation and improving quality of life. Our results demonstrate that the MOCA is an effective tool for detecting cognitive function decline. However, further large-scale, multi-center studies are needed to establish its routine use. © 2025, Pamukkale University. All rights reserved.