Issue
Date Log
Multiple Sclerosis - Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Corresponding Author(s) : Gauri Adhikari, MD
The American Journal of Patient Health Info,
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)
Abstract
- Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spine, causing problems like tiredness, difficulty walking, and vision issues.
- This condition primarily affects women, and it usually starts when people are between 20 and 40 years old.
- It affects people differently; some might feel tired, while others have trouble walking or see things blurry.
- If a woman has multiple sclerosis, pregnancy can be tricky. While symptoms may get better during pregnancy, there is a slight chance that multiple sclerosis may get worse after giving birth.
- While there's no cure for multiple sclerosis, eating well, staying active, managing stress, and not smoking can help people feel better and live healthier lives.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Zainab SR, Khan JZ, Tipu MK, Jahan F, Irshad N. Decoding multiple sclerosis: Unravelling the complexities of pathogenesis, progression, mechanisms and therapeutic innovations. Neuroscience [Internet]. 2024;S0306-4522(24)007358. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39709058/
- Faissner, S., Plemel, J.R., Gold, R. and Yong, V.W. (2019). Progressive multiple sclerosis: from pathophysiology to therapeutic strategies. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, [online] 18(12). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31399729/
- McGinley MP, Goldschmidt CH, Rae-Grant AD. Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA [Internet]. 2021 Feb 23;325(8):765–79. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2776694
- McKay KA, Kwan V, Duggan T, Tremlett H. Risk Factors Associated with the Onset of Relapsing-Remitting and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. BioMed Research International [Internet]. 2015;2015:1–11. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329850/
- Olsson T, Barcellos LF, Alfredsson L. Interactions between genetic, lifestyle and environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2016 Dec 9;13(1):25–36. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27934854/
- Hedström AK, Hillert J, Olsson T, Alfredsson L. Factors affecting the risk of relapsing-onset and progressive-onset multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry [Internet]. 2021 Oct 1 [cited 2022 Oct 3];92(10):1096–102. Available from: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/10/1096
- Alfredsson L, Olsson T. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors in Multiple Sclerosis. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine [Internet]. 2018 May 7;9(4):a028944. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6444694/
- Cree BAC, Arnold DL, Chataway J, Chitnis T, Fox RJ, Pozo Ramajo A, et al. Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology [Internet]. 2021 Jun 4;97(8):378–88. Available from: https://n.neurology.org/content/97/8/378
- Antel J, Antel S, Caramanos Z, Arnold DL, Kuhlmann T. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis: part of the MS disease spectrum or separate disease entity? Acta Neuropathologica. 2012 Feb 11;123(5):627–38. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22327362/
- Confavreux C, Vukusic S. Natural history of multiple sclerosis: a unifying concept. Brain [Internet]. 2006 Jan 16;129(3):606–16. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/129/3/606/390915
- Kraker JA, Xu SC, Flanagan EP, Foster R, Wang F, Chen JJ. Ocular Manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study. Journal of neuro-ophthalmology : the official journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society [Internet]. 2024 Jan;44(2):157–61. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38457238/
- Ford H. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Clinical Medicine [Internet]. 2020 Jul;20(4):380–3. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32675142/
- Dejan Jakimovski, Weinstock-Guttman B, Roy S, Jaworski M, Hancock LM, Nizinski A, et al. Cognitive Profiles of Aging in Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2019 May 10;11. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31133845/
- Miller D, Barkhof F, Montalban X, Thompson A, Filippi M. Clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis, part I: natural history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis. The Lancet Neurology. 2005 May;4(5):281–8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15847841/
- Rimkus C de M, Nucci MP, Avolio IB, Apóstolos-Pereira SL, Callegaro D, Wagner MB, et al. Atrophy Patterns in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis With Cognitive Impairment, Fatigue, and Mood Disorders. Neurology [Internet]. 2024 Winter;103(12):e210080. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39571119/
- Hartung HP, Graf J, Aktas O, Mares J, Barnett MH. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: revisions of the McDonald criteria 2017 - continuity and change. Current opinion in neurology [Internet]. 2019;32(3):327–37. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30985371
- Schwenkenbecher P, Wurster U, Konen FF, Gingele S, Sühs KW, Wattjes MP, et al. Impact of the McDonald Criteria 2017 on Early Diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology [Internet]. 2019 Mar 15 [cited 2020 Apr 30];10. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428717/
- Vidal-Jordana A, Rovira A, Calderon W, Arrambide G, Joaquín Castilló, Moncho D, et al. Adding the Optic Nerve in Multiple Sclerosis Diagnostic Criteria. Neurology. 2024 Jan 9;102(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37688999/
- Rae-Grant A, Day GS, Marrie RA, Rabinstein A, Cree BAC, Gronseth GS, et al. Comprehensive systematic review summary: Disease-modifying therapies for adults with multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2018 Apr 23;90(17):789–800. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29686117/
- Saguil A, Farnell Iv EA, Jordan TS. Multiple Sclerosis: A Primary Care Perspective. American Family Physician [Internet]. 2022 Aug 1;106(2):173–83. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35977131/
- Haki M, AL-Biati HA, Al-Tameemi ZS, Ali IS, Al-hussaniy HA. Review of multiple sclerosis: Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. Medicine [Internet]. 2024 Feb 23;103(8):e37297–7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10883637/
- Óscar Fernández, Per Soelberg Sörensen, Comi G, Vermersch P, Hartung HP, Letizia Leocani, et al. Managing multiple sclerosis in individuals aged 55 and above: a comprehensive review. Frontiers in immunology [Internet]. 2024 Apr 5;15. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11032020/
- Fitzgerald KC, Tyry T, Salter A, Cofield SS, Cutter G, Fox R, et al. Diet quality is associated with disability and symptom severity in multiple sclerosis. Neurology [Internet]. 2017 Dec 6;90(1):e1–11. Available from: https://n.neurology.org/content/90/1/e1
- Alhomoud MA, Khan AS, Alhomoud I. The Potential Preventive Effect of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding on Multiple Sclerosis. European Neurology. 2021;84(2):71–84. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744881/
- Schubert C, Steinberg L, Peper J, Ramien C, Hellwig K, Köpke S, et al. Postpartum relapse risk in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry [Internet]. 2023 Feb 20;jnnp–2022-330533. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36807056/
- Hardy D, Chitnis T, Waubant E, Banwell B. Preventing Multiple Sclerosis: The Pediatric Perspective. Frontiers in Neurology. 2022 F
References
Zainab SR, Khan JZ, Tipu MK, Jahan F, Irshad N. Decoding multiple sclerosis: Unravelling the complexities of pathogenesis, progression, mechanisms and therapeutic innovations. Neuroscience [Internet]. 2024;S0306-4522(24)007358. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39709058/
Faissner, S., Plemel, J.R., Gold, R. and Yong, V.W. (2019). Progressive multiple sclerosis: from pathophysiology to therapeutic strategies. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, [online] 18(12). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31399729/
McGinley MP, Goldschmidt CH, Rae-Grant AD. Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA [Internet]. 2021 Feb 23;325(8):765–79. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2776694
McKay KA, Kwan V, Duggan T, Tremlett H. Risk Factors Associated with the Onset of Relapsing-Remitting and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. BioMed Research International [Internet]. 2015;2015:1–11. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329850/
Olsson T, Barcellos LF, Alfredsson L. Interactions between genetic, lifestyle and environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2016 Dec 9;13(1):25–36. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27934854/
Hedström AK, Hillert J, Olsson T, Alfredsson L. Factors affecting the risk of relapsing-onset and progressive-onset multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry [Internet]. 2021 Oct 1 [cited 2022 Oct 3];92(10):1096–102. Available from: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/10/1096
Alfredsson L, Olsson T. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors in Multiple Sclerosis. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine [Internet]. 2018 May 7;9(4):a028944. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6444694/
Cree BAC, Arnold DL, Chataway J, Chitnis T, Fox RJ, Pozo Ramajo A, et al. Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology [Internet]. 2021 Jun 4;97(8):378–88. Available from: https://n.neurology.org/content/97/8/378
Antel J, Antel S, Caramanos Z, Arnold DL, Kuhlmann T. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis: part of the MS disease spectrum or separate disease entity? Acta Neuropathologica. 2012 Feb 11;123(5):627–38. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22327362/
Confavreux C, Vukusic S. Natural history of multiple sclerosis: a unifying concept. Brain [Internet]. 2006 Jan 16;129(3):606–16. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/129/3/606/390915
Kraker JA, Xu SC, Flanagan EP, Foster R, Wang F, Chen JJ. Ocular Manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study. Journal of neuro-ophthalmology : the official journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society [Internet]. 2024 Jan;44(2):157–61. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38457238/
Ford H. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Clinical Medicine [Internet]. 2020 Jul;20(4):380–3. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32675142/
Dejan Jakimovski, Weinstock-Guttman B, Roy S, Jaworski M, Hancock LM, Nizinski A, et al. Cognitive Profiles of Aging in Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2019 May 10;11. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31133845/
Miller D, Barkhof F, Montalban X, Thompson A, Filippi M. Clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis, part I: natural history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis. The Lancet Neurology. 2005 May;4(5):281–8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15847841/
Rimkus C de M, Nucci MP, Avolio IB, Apóstolos-Pereira SL, Callegaro D, Wagner MB, et al. Atrophy Patterns in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis With Cognitive Impairment, Fatigue, and Mood Disorders. Neurology [Internet]. 2024 Winter;103(12):e210080. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39571119/
Hartung HP, Graf J, Aktas O, Mares J, Barnett MH. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: revisions of the McDonald criteria 2017 - continuity and change. Current opinion in neurology [Internet]. 2019;32(3):327–37. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30985371
Schwenkenbecher P, Wurster U, Konen FF, Gingele S, Sühs KW, Wattjes MP, et al. Impact of the McDonald Criteria 2017 on Early Diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology [Internet]. 2019 Mar 15 [cited 2020 Apr 30];10. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428717/
Vidal-Jordana A, Rovira A, Calderon W, Arrambide G, Joaquín Castilló, Moncho D, et al. Adding the Optic Nerve in Multiple Sclerosis Diagnostic Criteria. Neurology. 2024 Jan 9;102(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37688999/
Rae-Grant A, Day GS, Marrie RA, Rabinstein A, Cree BAC, Gronseth GS, et al. Comprehensive systematic review summary: Disease-modifying therapies for adults with multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2018 Apr 23;90(17):789–800. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29686117/
Saguil A, Farnell Iv EA, Jordan TS. Multiple Sclerosis: A Primary Care Perspective. American Family Physician [Internet]. 2022 Aug 1;106(2):173–83. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35977131/
Haki M, AL-Biati HA, Al-Tameemi ZS, Ali IS, Al-hussaniy HA. Review of multiple sclerosis: Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. Medicine [Internet]. 2024 Feb 23;103(8):e37297–7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10883637/
Óscar Fernández, Per Soelberg Sörensen, Comi G, Vermersch P, Hartung HP, Letizia Leocani, et al. Managing multiple sclerosis in individuals aged 55 and above: a comprehensive review. Frontiers in immunology [Internet]. 2024 Apr 5;15. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11032020/
Fitzgerald KC, Tyry T, Salter A, Cofield SS, Cutter G, Fox R, et al. Diet quality is associated with disability and symptom severity in multiple sclerosis. Neurology [Internet]. 2017 Dec 6;90(1):e1–11. Available from: https://n.neurology.org/content/90/1/e1
Alhomoud MA, Khan AS, Alhomoud I. The Potential Preventive Effect of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding on Multiple Sclerosis. European Neurology. 2021;84(2):71–84. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744881/
Schubert C, Steinberg L, Peper J, Ramien C, Hellwig K, Köpke S, et al. Postpartum relapse risk in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry [Internet]. 2023 Feb 20;jnnp–2022-330533. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36807056/
Hardy D, Chitnis T, Waubant E, Banwell B. Preventing Multiple Sclerosis: The Pediatric Perspective. Frontiers in Neurology. 2022 F