Facts About MS

There is no known cure for MS - research is ongoing in this field however in the meantime symptom management is key and there are many ways in which this can be achieved either through medication (Disease Modifying Drugs (DMDs)), or physical and complementary therapies.

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Approximately 100,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with MS although, given the nature of the condition and the wide variety of symptoms it can cause, this figure could be much higher.

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MS is generally diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, although there are many cases of diagnoses in children and older people.

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There are roughly three times as many women diagnosed with MS as men.

Many experts believe that MS is linked to vitamin D deficiency since cases are far more common in countries with less sunlight.

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It can take a long time to receive a diagnosis of MS, since many symptoms can mirror those of other conditions. In general, if MS is suspected, a neurologist will confirm the diagnosis through the tests such as an MRI scan, evoked potentials (using electrodes to measure brain responsiveness) or a lumbar puncture (extracting cerebrospinal fluid under local anaesthetic to test for abnormalities).

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