Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often associated with its physical symptoms, such as fatigue, balance issues, or pain. However, another aspect, more invisible yet equally impactful, affects a large part of those concerned: "brain fog." This sensation of confusion, difficulties in finding words, or remembering an appointment is not a fatality. Memory workshops, specifically designed to address these challenges, represent a proactive and effective approach to stimulate the brain and improve daily quality of life.
But how do they actually work? Who can benefit from them? And how can new technologies extend their benefits at home? This article invites you to dive into the heart of these workshops to understand all their mechanisms and advantages.
Before exploring the solution, it is essential to clearly define the problem. Cognitive disorders in MS are common, affecting about half of patients to varying degrees. This is not Alzheimer’s disease, but rather a slowing down or difficulty juggling multiple pieces of information.
Brain fog: more than just fatigue
Imagine your brain as a vast and perfectly organized library. Normally, when you search for information, you know exactly which aisle and shelf to find it on. The "brain fog" associated with multiple sclerosis is like a thick fog suddenly engulfing this library. The aisles are less clear, the labels are blurry, and finding the right book requires considerable effort. You know the information is there, somewhere, but accessing it becomes a real challenge.
This fog manifests as difficulty concentrating during a conversation, losing the thread of your thoughts, forgetting what you came to get in a room, or having a word "on the tip of your tongue" without being able to grasp it. It’s a frustrating experience that can generate anxiety and a feeling of isolation.
Which cognitive functions are most affected?
Cognitive difficulties in MS do not affect all functions in the same way. Some are more vulnerable than others. Memory workshops specifically target these areas to strengthen them.
- Information processing speed: This is the ability to think quickly and react to a situation. With MS, this speed may be diminished. You may feel that the world is moving too fast, that you need more time to understand a question or to formulate a response.
- Working memory: This is your "short-term memory," the one you use to retain information for a short period to complete a task. For example, remembering a phone number long enough to dial it, or following the steps of a recipe.
- Attention and concentration: This is the ability to focus on a task while ignoring distractions. The "fog" can make it difficult to stay focused on reading a book, watching a movie, or attending a work meeting.
- Executive functions: These are the "orchestral conductor" skills of your brain. They include planning (organizing a trip), problem-solving, decision-making, and mental flexibility (switching from one task to another).
Why is it crucial to act?
Ignoring these symptoms can have significant consequences on your daily life. It can affect your ability to work, manage your budget, follow your medical treatments, or simply participate fully in family conversations. This situation can undermine self-confidence and push you to withdraw into yourself.
The good news is that the brain has an extraordinary capacity: neuroplasticity. Think of your brain not as a fixed structure, but as a dense forest. If a path is blocked by a fallen tree (a lesion related to MS), neuroplasticity is the ability to create new paths to circumvent the obstacle and reach the same destination. Memory workshops are specifically designed to help your brain create and strengthen these new neural pathways.
What is a memory workshop and who is it for?
A memory workshop is not a lecture where you are asked to memorize lists. It is a supportive and structured training space where you learn to better use your cognitive abilities and develop strategies to compensate for difficulties.
Definition and main objectives
A memory workshop, often led by a healthcare professional (speech therapist, neuropsychologist, occupational therapist), is a session, either individual or in small groups, during which participants engage in playful and targeted exercises to stimulate different cognitive functions.
The objectives are multiple:
- Stimulate and maintain existing cognitive abilities.
- Learn and appropriate compensation strategies to facilitate daily life.
- Regain confidence in one’s own intellectual abilities.
- Break isolation by sharing experiences with others facing the same challenges.
- Better understand how one’s own memory and attention work.
The profile of participants
Contrary to popular belief, these workshops are not only for people with severe cognitive disorders. They are beneficial for anyone with multiple sclerosis who experiences discomfort, even mild, in their daily life. If you recognize yourself in the following situations, a memory workshop could be a valuable resource for you:
- You often search for your words.
- You forget appointments or what you were supposed to buy.
- You have difficulty following a conversation with several people.
- You feel mentally "slow" or "foggy".
- You simply want to take preventive action to preserve your cognitive capital for as long as possible.
These workshops are suitable for all ages and stages of the disease. The important thing is the willingness to actively engage in the process.
The concrete process of a typical session
To demystify the concept, let’s imagine together the flow of a memory workshop session. Think of it as a workout for your brain: it starts with a warm-up, continues with various exercises, and ends with stretches and practical advice.
Welcoming and cognitive warm-up
Each session begins with a friendly welcome. The facilitator creates a trusting atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves. The warm-up consists of simple and quick exercises to "wake up" the brain. This can include orientation questions (What day is it? What season is it?), a simple mental math game, or a quick vocabulary exercise, such as finding as many words as possible starting with the letter "M" in one minute. The goal is not performance, but a gentle start.
The heart of the session: stimulation exercises
This is where the training becomes more specific. The facilitator proposes a series of exercises, often presented in the form of games, to work on different cognitive functions. Variety is essential to maintain interest and engage the brain as a whole.
For example, to work on working memory, the facilitator might present a series of 5 objects, hide them, and then ask you to name them in order. To stimulate visual attention, they might offer a "spot the difference" game or ask you to find a specific symbol in a grid filled with similar symbols. For mental flexibility, the exercise could involve alternating between two tasks, such as sorting cards by color, then by shape, and then back to color. Finally, for language, you might work on anagrams, riddles, or creating sentences from imposed words.
Learning compensatory strategies
This part is absolutely fundamental. Stimulation is important, but learning to "navigate around" difficulties is just as crucial. The workshop is the ideal place to discover and practice using "cognitive crutches."
There are two types of strategies. Internal strategies rely on your own mental resources. For example, the visualization method, which involves creating a mental image to retain information (imagining a pineapple on your car to remember to buy it). External strategies, on the other hand, rely on tools. Using a planner, setting alarms on your phone, writing systematic shopping lists, or using a pill organizer are concrete examples that significantly lighten the mental load and secure daily life. The facilitator helps you identify the most relevant strategies for your own difficulties.
The benefits of memory workshops beyond cognition
The impact of these workshops goes far beyond simply improving scores on cognitive tests. Their benefits extend to many areas of your life, contributing to overall well-being.
Improvement of cognitive abilities and autonomy
By training regularly, you can observe concrete improvements. You find your words more easily, you manage to concentrate better on a task, and you feel more effective in planning your days. By learning to use compensation strategies, you become more autonomous. You no longer fear forgetting an important appointment or losing the thread of your thoughts, as you now have reliable tools to help you. This regained sense of control is extremely rewarding.
Strengthening social bonds and self-confidence
One of the most powerful benefits of group workshops is breaking isolation. You realize that you are not alone in experiencing these difficulties. Sharing with others who intimately understand what you are going through is liberating. The group becomes a space for mutual support where you can share tips, frustrations, and successes without judgment. Seeing that you can succeed in exercises, even simple ones at first, boosts self-esteem. Gradually, the fear of "not being able to do it anymore" fades away, giving way to renewed confidence in your own resources.
The contribution of new technologies: adapted brain training programs
Memory workshops are very effective, but they often take place once a week or every two weeks. However, as with a muscle, regular training is the key to success. This is where new technologies, particularly brain training applications, play a leading role by providing valuable support at home.
Training at home, in addition to workshops
Programs on tablets or smartphones allow you to extend the work done in sessions, at your own pace, whenever you want. They offer a wide variety of games, often with difficulty levels that automatically adjust to your performance. This helps maintain motivation and continue progressing between appointments with your therapist. It’s an excellent way to consolidate what you’ve learned and integrate cognitive training into your daily routine, making it both useful and enjoyable.
Presentation of DYNSEO applications: Edith & Joe
Among the available tools, our adapted brain training programs stand out for their design in collaboration with healthcare professionals. Our applications, such as the Edith program, offer a vast library of cognitive games specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals facing cognitive difficulties.
- Adaptation and personalization: Edith's games specifically target the functions we discussed: memory, attention, language, logic, processing speed. The difficulty adjusts to your results to provide a challenge that is always stimulating but never discouraging.
- Performance tracking: The program records your scores, allowing you to visualize your progress over time. It’s an excellent motivator.
- Fun aspect: We believe that you learn better while having fun. That’s why our games are designed to be engaging and entertaining, turning training into a truly enjoyable moment.
Additionally, our application Joe focuses more on social connections and leisure activities, allowing users to easily send photo messages to family, make simplified video calls, or follow the news, thus combating the isolation that can accompany the disease.
An effective collaboration between the patient and the therapist
One of the great advantages of these digital tools is that they can be integrated into your therapeutic follow-up. Many speech therapists and neuropsychologists use our programs, like Edith, with their patients. This collaboration works in several ways:
The therapist can use the app's games during sessions as exercise support.
Thanks to a professional platform, the therapist can monitor your results remotely. This allows them to prepare the next session with a clear view of your progress, strengths, and areas that still need work. It’s a valuable time saver that makes follow-up even more effective and tailored.In conclusion, cognitive disorders related to multiple sclerosis should no longer be a taboo subject or a fatality. Memory workshops offer a concrete, human, and structured response to regain control. By combining stimulation, learning strategies, and group support, they provide you with the keys to navigate your daily life better. Complemented by adapted digital tools like our Edith & Joe programs, which allow you to continue training at home in connection with your therapist, you have a complete toolkit to maintain your brain's vitality. Think of your cognition as a garden: it requires attention, regular watering, and the right tools to thrive. Don’t hesitate to discuss it with your neurologist or doctor, and explore the resources available near you. It’s an active and positive step for your well-being.
Here is our guide to support people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis: https://www.dynseo.com/la-reeducation-cognitive-lorsque-lon-est-atteint-dune-sclerose-en-plaques/