Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be an early sign of Depression & Anxiety

In the years before the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), people were nearly twice as likely to experience mental illness, according to new research that is illuminating the disease’s early warning signs. The study suggests that psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression may be part of the prodromal phase of multiple sclerosis (MS), characterized by early symptoms and signs that appear before classic MS symptoms.

Uncovering the Early Signs: How Anxiety and Depression May Foreshadow Multiple Sclerosis

According to the study, which was published in Neurology, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, mental illnesses like anxiety and depression may be a part of the prodromal phase of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is characterized by a set of early symptoms and clues that appear before classic MS symptoms.

“For a long time, it was thought that MS only really began clinically when a person experienced their first demyelinating event, such as in the form of vision problems,” said senior author Dr. Helen Tremlett, professor of neurology at UBC and a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. “But we’ve come to understand there is a whole period preceding those events where the disease presents itself in more indirect ways.”

In MS, an autoimmune condition that affects brain communication, the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath covering nerve fibers. Multiple Sclerosis symptoms vary widely and resemble those of other diseases, making diagnosis challenging for medical professionals. This means that the road to a diagnosis can be arduous and uncertain for many patients.

Unveiling Early MS Signs: The Role of Mental Health and Prodromal Symptoms

Dr. Tremlett and her team work to better characterize early MS stages for earlier detection and potential intervention. Some diseases, like Parkinson’s, have prodromal phases with symptoms like constipation years before traditional motor deficits appear.

“If we can recognize MS earlier, treatment could begin sooner. This has tremendous potential to slow disease progression and improve quality of life for people,” said Dr. Tremlett.

Dr. Tremlett’s team aims to better characterize early MS stages, similar to prodromal phases seen in Parkinson’s disease.

According to the research, 14.9 percent of people in general and 28.0% of MS patients reported having a mental condition. Patients with MS also frequently use healthcare services for psychiatric symptoms, including hospitalizations, prescriptions, and visits to doctors and psychiatrists.

Notably, the gap grew in each of the five years prior to the onset of the disease.

Dr. Chertcoff noted rising psychiatric conditions before MS onset, suggesting they may signal MS when combined with other factors.

Defining Early MS Symptoms: A Crucial Step for Better Diagnosis and Prevention

The research builds on Dr. Tremlett’s findings, suggesting MS prodrome includes fatigue, sleep issues, IBS, anemia, and pain.

For Sharon Roman, 25 years with MS, better defining the prodromal period could significantly benefit patients. “We take daily functions like walking and vision for granted until MS takes them away,” Roman said. Identifying early signs of MS allows for quicker recognition, diagnosis, and treatment, potentially improving outcomes for patients. We can prevent diagnoses from massive attacks and hospitalization, avoiding the losses I faced and improving early intervention. Earlier treatment may help slow progression.”