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Cognitive Health in Multiple Sclerosis Research Lab

Cognitive Health in Multiple Sclerosis Research Lab

Team Leader

Lisa Walker

Lisa Walker

Clinician Investigator, Neuroscience

What We Do

Our lab studies cognitive health in individuals with multiple sclerosis.  We have an active research program that evaluates various aspects of cognition in this population.  Our current focus is in the following areas: 
- cognitive fatigability
- cognitive rehabilitation
- the impact of exercise on cognition
- needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ MS population

Past areas of interest have included:
- the impact of stem-cell therapies on cognition
- the relationship between cognition and biomarkers of disease (e.g. imaging, sNfL)
- the assessment of cognition (e.g. psychometrics)

Our lab consists of a number of dedicated health professionals who are passionate about what we do.  It is our collective goal to improve the quality of life in those people with MS whom we serve.

Visit the Lab Website

Research Activities

The Cognitive Health in Multiple Sclerosis Research Lab conducts research evaluating various aspects of cognitive health in multiple sclerosis. Our research currently focuses on cognitive fatigability, cognitive rehabilitation, the cognitive impact of exercise, and the needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ MS population.  Past areas of research have included the cognitive impact of stem cell therapies, assessment and longitudinal evaluation of cognition, and the relationship between cognition and biomarkers of disease activity.

Selected Publications

Donkers, S.J., Berscheid, M., Bayley, M., Bruno, T.R., Pilutti, L., Simpson, R., Smyth, P., Walker, L.A.S., Knox, K.B., on behalf of the AGREE Working Group of the Canadian MS Rehabilitation Knowledge Mobilization Network (2025).  Quality and scope of published international guidelines for multiple sclerosis care: AGREE II Appraisal.  NeuroRehabilitation, DOI: 10.1177/10538135251387611

Walker, L.A.S., Finlayson, M., Cameron, J., Donkers, S.J., Knox, K., Mayo, N., Ploughman, M., Canlas, K., Jacksch, M., Liu, S. & Pilutti, L. on behalf of MSCanRehab (2025). A conceptual approach to comprehensive interdisciplinary cognitive rehabilitation: A description using the TIDieR-Rehab Framework.  Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 104, 106783. (published on-line 2 October 2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2025.106783

Craft, C.L., Islam, T., Berard, J.A. & Walker, L.A.S. (2025).  Subjective cognitive fatigability is associated with worse patient-reported physical disability in multiple sclerosis.  Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 106720 (published on-line 2 September 2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2025.106720

Scandiffio, J., Feng, G., Sureshkumar, A., Senthilnathan, V., Langer, L.K., Bromberg, M., Babineau, J., Donkers, S., Knox, K., Bruno, T., Walker, L.A.S., Bayley, M.T. & Simpson, R. (2025).  Effects of psychological therapies in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Neurology, 272:584. doi:10.1007/s00415-025-13315-6Donkers, S. J. & Walker, L.A.S. (2025). An interdisciplinary approach is necessary in the treatment of cognitive decline in MS – Yes. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 31(3): 257-259. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585251315344

Edwards T, Chaves AR, Awadia Z, Ludgate J, Peters A, Walker LAS, Pilutti LA. (2025).  Feasibility of Aerobic Exercise in People with Advanced Multiple Sclerosis: Characterizing Acute Responses to Inform Exercise Prescription. International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care, 27:218-228.  doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2024-063

Islam, T., Pumphrey, J.D., Bowman, M., Berard, J.A., Bearnes, R., Pham, T. & Walker, L.A.S. (2025).  Implementation of Cognition, Fatigue, and Mental Health Screening at a Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Centre: A Quality Improvement Initiative.  International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care, 27, 195-199. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2024-096

Walker, L.A.S., Berard, J.A., Islam, T., Pilutti, L.A., Morrow, S.A. & Finlayson, M. (2022). Development of a behavioural intervention for cognitive fatigability in multiple sclerosis: Protocol for a pilot and feasibility study. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 3:999266. (published on-line 16 November 2022). https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.999266/full

Berard, J.A. & Walker, L.A.S. (2022). Validity and Sensitivity of Canadian Normative Data for the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) Battery. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 63, 103865. (published on-line 10 May 2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2022.103865

Berard, J.A., Freedman, M.S., Marrie, R.A., Marriott, J.J., Atkins, H.L., Szwajcer, D., Courtman, D.W., Thebault, S. & Walker, L.A.S. (2022). The impact of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on cognition in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 61, 1-8, 103779 (published on-line 27 March 2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2022.103779

Berard, J.A. & Walker, L.A.S. (2021). Increasing the clinical utility of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test: Normative data for standard performance, dyad and cognitive fatigability scoring. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 34(2), 107-116. https://doi:10.1097/WNN.0000000000000268. PMID: 34074865

Atkins, H.L., Bowman, M., Allan, D., Anstee, G., Arnold, D.L., Bar-Or, A., Bence-Bruckler, I., Birch, P., Bredeson, C., Chen, J., Fergusson, D., Halpenny, M., Hamelin, L., Heubsch, L., Hutton, B., Laneuville, P., Lapierre, Y., Lee, H., Martin, L., McDiarmid, S., O’Connor, P., Ramsay, T., Sabloff, M., Walker, L.A.S. & Freedman, M.S. (2016; 6-12 Aug). Immunoablation and autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation for aggressive multiple sclerosis: a multicentre single-group phase 2 trial. The Lancet, 388 (10044), 576-585, (online 9 June 2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30169-6 PMID: 27291994