Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that can affect cognitive functioning, particularly information processing speed (IPS) and executive function (EF). These difficulties may contribute to problems in daily functioning and employment. This study examined whether IPS and EF change across the workday in working individuals with MS and whether these changes differed from those in healthy controls (HC). Additionally, the relationship between IPS and EF was investigated. This research could initiate the development of evidence-based guidelines for optimizing workday structures and reduce the risk of unemployment.

Participants completed neuropsychological assessments at the beginning and end of the workday. IPS and EF were measured using a battery of cognitive tests and analysed with repeated-measures analyses and regression models. Against expectations, both IPS and EF performance were better at the end of the workday. In addition, the MS group showed significantly higher EF scores than the HC group. IPS levels before work did not predict changes in EF, but changes in IPS were significantly associated with changes in EF.

These findings do not support the expectations that cognitive performance declines over the workday in working individuals with MS. The improvements may be due to practice effects or to the MS sample comprising relatively high-functioning individuals. The positive association between changes in IPS and EF suggests that these cognitive domains are related, although the direction of this relationship remains unclear. Overall, this study adds to the understanding of cognitive functioning in MS and highlights the need for future research.