Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is a lifelong condition that causes neurological disabilities and a wide range of symptoms.
Globally, in 2016, MS affected an estimated
It is immune-mediated, and most experts believe that it is an autoimmune disease. In a person with MS, the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath substance that covers nerve fibers. This causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
Symptoms can affect any part of the body and include:
- numbness and tingling
- vision problems
- muscle spasms and weakness
- fatigue
- anxiety and depression
- pain
- mobility issues
- difficulty speaking and swallowing
In some cases, the disease slowly worsens over time, and doctors call this condition primary progressive MS. Other people experience “attacks,” or exacerbations, during which symptoms become worse or new symptoms appear. This is known as relapsing-remitting MS.
For some people, relapsing-remitting MS gradually worsens. The name for this condition is secondary progressive MS.
To date, it is unclear why some people develop MS and others do not, but environmental and genetic factors may play a role. Because it is not entirely clear why MS occurs, it is no surprise that myths have arisen and persisted.
In this article, we address nine of the most common myths and misconceptions about MS.
Article highlights:
This is a myth. In reality, the MS Society explain, “Most people with MS don’t use a wheelchair.”
Fifteen years after an MS diagnosis, only
The MS Society also note: “If your MS does start to affect your mobility, the decision to start using a walking stick, mobility scooter, or wheelchair can be a difficult one. But once you start using one, you may find — as many people with MS do — how useful they are and how they can help you to retain your independence.”
This is a myth. People with MS are valuable members of the workforce.
It is true that some people with MS face challenges and may need to change career paths, but this is not inevitable for everyone. On this point, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society report, “People living with MS often continue working long after their diagnosis.”
They also acknowledge, however, that “Some people with MS decide to leave their jobs when they are first diagnosed or experience their first major exacerbation, often at the suggestion of their family or doctor.”
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society explain that this decision, in some cases, may be made too quickly “and at a time when symptoms can color judgment. Disease-modifying therapies, new technologies, better symptom management, legal employment protections, and community resources can help you remain in the workforce.”
Indeed, having regular work can benefit people with MS, as the authors of one study explain:
“In addition to providing financial security, employment can contribute significantly to the physical and mental well-being of people with MS, providing a source of support and social interaction, and a sense of identity and purpose.”
Actually, most people with MS experience their first symptoms between the ages of
While it can appear at any age, developing MS after the age of 50 is considered relatively rare.
However, as the authors of one study explain, distinguishing late-onset MS from other conditions associated with advancing age can be challenging, so the condition may be more common than some estimates suggest.
This is untrue. Exercise can help with symptoms and improve balance and strength.
This myth is pervasive. As the researchers behind some
“Exercise should be considered as a safe and effective means of rehabilitation in MS patients. Existing evidence shows that a supervised and individualized exercise program may improve fitness, functional capacity, and quality of life, as well as modifiable impairments in MS patients.”
Last year, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in collaboration with a team of experts, published a comprehensive guide to physical activity for people with MS. Among other recommendations, they write:
“Healthcare providers should encourage [at least] 150 minutes each week of exercise and/or [at least] 150 minutes each week of lifestyle physical activity. […] Progress toward these targets should be gradual, based on the person’s abilities, preferences, and safety.”
It is important to speak with a doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.
Currently,
During the early phases of the condition, its symptoms may not cause too many problems, but early treatment and long-term follow-up can potentially slow the progression of the disease.
For instance, a
Another common myth is that MS can hamper efforts to become pregnant and cause issues during pregnancy. This is not true. The Multiple Sclerosis Trust explain:
“A pregnancy is not automatically high risk just because the mother has MS. […] If you have MS, you are no more likely to experience a miscarriage or birth [abnormalities] in your baby than a woman who does not have MS.”
People with relapsing-remitting MS are less likely to experience a relapse during pregnancy than they would ordinarily. The risk of relapse increases again in the 6 months after giving birth.
In 2019, the Association of British Neurologists published a consensus on guidelines for pregnancy in people with MS, from prepregnancy counseling to postpartum advice.
They acknowledge that “Having MS does not affect fertility or risk of miscarriage,” and that “Pregnancy does not increase the risk of worsening long-term disability.”
The authors also recommend that people with MS “should not defer disease-modifying drug treatment because they wish to have children in the future.”
While there is a genetic component to MS, it does not pass directly from parent to child in a predictable way.
Studies have shown that if one identical twin develops MS, there is a
So far, scientists have identified more than 200 gene regions that contribute to MS susceptibility.
According to the MS Society, 1 in 67 children who have a parent with MS develop the condition. This is compared with a roughly 1 in 500 risk for children whose parents do not have MS.
So, although the risk does increase, inheriting MS is in no way a foregone conclusion.
It is true that stressful life events
However, it is impossible to avoid stress and anxiety altogether.
The MS Society recommend finding ways to manage stress more effectively. And as the authors of a brochure produced by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society note:
“Stress can’t be — and shouldn’t be — totally avoided. The challenge is to learn to reduce its intensity and use it to work for, not against, us.”
A similar myth is that stressful life events might increase the risk of developing MS in the first place. There is
Although MS is a lifelong condition, it is not a fatal one. According to one study, having MS reduces a person’s lifespan by around 7 years.
The same study found that “Survival was shortest in the earliest birth cohort for both populations.” From this, they conclude that the average lifespan of people with MS may be slowly increasing.
As scientists keep investigating this disease and researching and developing new treatments, MS is likely to have an increasingly reduced effect on a person’s lifespan.