A new study from the American Academy of Neurology indicates that the earlier MS is treated, the less likely someone is to suffer disability as they age.
MS, or multiple sclerosis, is a chronic neurological disorder that impacts the central nervous system. It results from the immune system mistakenly attacking the protective myelin sheath covering nerve fibers, causing communication issues between the brain and the body. Some of the more common symptoms of MS include fatigue, numbness, muscle weakness, and difficulty with coordination and walking. The course of MS varies widely from person to person, with unpredictable relapses and remissions. It primarily affects younger adults, and its exact cause still remains unclear. While there’s no cure for MS, treatments aim to manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve patients’ quality of life.
Someone with MS will be impacted for the rest of their life, and as they age, symptoms can become more and more difficult to manage. However, this new study indicates that there might be more hope for those suffering from the disease than what is often thought.
The new study also points to the fact that early detection for MS is absolutely vital to the individual’s long term health.
The study looked at a total of 580 people that experienced first symptoms of MS that also received at least one disease-modifying medication after the onset of these symptoms. The study size was then split into three different groups: one that received treatment within six months after the first sign of symptoms, one group between six and 16 months, and a group that received treatment after a period of more than 16 months had gone by. The level of disability that was experienced was then monitored for a period of 11 years afterwards. The researchers scored the level of disability that was experienced for each individual on a scale of 1 to 10.
A score of 3 on this scale indicated difficulty, but not disability. Some that scored a 3 was able to walk unassisted, but had moderate difficulty in one area of their life. They found that 23 percent of those that were treated prior to six months ranked as a 3, but 43 percent of those that started treatment after 16 months ranked at a 3. 7 percent of the first group saw their disease worsen to a new stage in this timeframe, but 23 percent of the later treatment group saw the disease worsen.
The team published their findings in the journal, Neurology. There’s no cure for MS, but treatment for the disease continues to improve as time goes by. Hopefully, this new study helps to improve the quality of life that those with MS experience, especially as they age. Unfortunately, those with MS tend to struggle as they age. Seniors with the disease face complications that aren’t always present in younger populations. This new study gives hope.
Early detection and treatment is key for long term health across all diseases and conditions. The longer something is left untreated, the harder life is going to be for someone as they age. Unfortunately, this is the situation that many elderly folk are currently coping with.
If you’d like to learn more about how senior care can help with this, please feel free to reach out.
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