A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may exhibit increased healthcare usage related to MS symptoms up to 15 years before an official diagnosis is made.
The research, conducted by the University of British Columbia, analyzed health records from over 12,000 individuals in British Columbia and found that those with MS began visiting healthcare providers at a higher rate than the general population 15 years before their first MS symptoms appeared.
The study’s findings challenge traditional diagnostic timelines for MS and suggest a lengthy prodromal phase where nonspecific symptoms quietly precede more recognizable signs of the disease. Identifying this earlier timeline could lead to proactive support, monitoring, and even future prevention strategies.
According to the researchers, people with MS reported experiencing general symptoms such as fatigue, pain, dizziness, anxiety, and depression years before neurological symptoms became apparent. These findings are significant because they suggest that mental health-related issues may be among the earliest indicators of MS.
The study’s results indicate that healthcare usage increased steadily over 15 years before MS diagnosis, with distinct patterns emerging in different specialties. Notably, visits to general practice physicians, psychiatrists, and neurologists increased at different points in time, suggesting a complex prodromal phase for MS.
While the researchers caution that not everyone who experiences these symptoms will develop MS, they believe that recognizing and characterizing the early warning signs of the disease could help accelerate diagnosis and improve outcomes for patients. The study’s findings have important implications for future research into early biomarkers, lifestyle factors, and potential triggers that may be at play during the previously overlooked prodromal phase of MS.
The researchers’ findings also echo those from previous studies on Parkinson’s disease, which found similar patterns of subtle symptoms preceding more recognizable signs of the disease.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-early-signs-29547