Key clinical point: Learning a second language may increase the grey matter volume in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and consequently improve mental health and health-related quality of life.
Major finding: Training in a second language was associated with a significant increase of grey matter volume in the right hippocampus, parahippocampus, and putamen region of the brain in patients with MS.
Study details: A prospective evaluation of second language training in patients with MS (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 12).
Disclosures: The study was funded by Merck Austria, without any other external funding. None of the authors was affiliated with Merck Austria.
Citation: Ehling R, et al. PLoS One. 2019 Dec 23. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226525.