MS Factoids
General Information about Multiple Sclerosis from the MC Fox.com
(Note:low vitamin D increases probability of MS which lowers vitamin D levels even more. Vitamin D related items are marked in blue )
First Diagnosed in 1849
The earliest known description of a person with possible Multiple Sclerosis dates from 14th century Holland
Multiple Sclerosis is the most common progressive and disabling neurological condition in young adults
Approx 2.5 million people worldwide, have Multiple Sclerosis
Around 400,000 people in the United States have Multiple Sclerosis
In the UK, approx 70,000 people have the disease
Approx 50,000 people in Canada have Multiple Sclerosis
Scotland has the highest incidence of Multiple Sclerosis per head of population in the world also have the lowest levels of vitamin D in the world
- In Scotland, over 10,500 people have Multiple Sclerosis
No virus has ever been isolated as the cause of Multiple Sclerosis
Average age of clinical onset is 30 – 33 years of age
The average age of diagnosis is 37 years of age
The average time between clinical onset of MS and diagnosis by physicians is 4 - 5 years
10% of cases are diagnosed after the age of fifty
In 1936, only 8% of patients were reported to survive beyond 20 years after onset of illness
In 1961, over 80% of Multiple Sclerosis patients were reported surviving to 20 years after onset of illness
2002 – A patient with Multiple Sclerosis can expect to live to average population life-expectancy minus seven years (mean life expectancy - 7 years)
Multiple Sclerosis is five times more prevalent in temperate climates than in tropical climates well known latitude/UVB
Multiple Sclerosis affects women much more frequently than men. Approx. 1.7 – 2:1 in the US and approx 3:2 in the UK women have lower vitamin D levels than men
The ratio of white to non-white is approx 2:1
Gypsies and Inuit's do get Multiple Sclerosis although the incidence rate is much lower than other populations at approx 19 per 100,000
Native Indians of North and South America, the Japanese and other Asian peoples have a very low incidence rate of Multiple Sclerosis
In identical twins where one twin develops the disease, the likelihood of the second twin developing Multiple Sclerosis is approx 30%
The incidence rate for non-identical twins, where one contracts Multiple Sclerosis, is approx 4%
The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if a first-degree relative (father, mother, sibling) has the disease, is approx 1% - 3% overall
The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if your father has the disease is approx 1 in 100
The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if your mother has the disease is approx 1 in 50
The risk among the general population of contracting Multiple Sclerosis is approx 1 in 800
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms from same group
The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis may be mild or severe, chronic (long-term) or of short duration; may be transient (appear and disappear very quickly)
Symptoms and signs may disappear or may fluctuate in character and intensity
The sometimes bizarre and transient nature of symptoms may be mistaken for a psychiatric condition
Approx. 40% of Multiple Sclerosis patients have Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
Approx. 20% of Multiple Sclerosis patients will initially be diagnosed as having Benign Multiple Sclerosis
- Less than 5% - 10% of patients actually have benign Multiple Sclerosis
55% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will develop optic neuritis at some time or other during their lifetime. 45% of patients do not
Approximately 5% - 10% of Multiple Sclerosis patients experience trigeminal neuralgia (tic delaroux) at some stage during the course of the disease
Only 15% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will have optic neuritis as a first symptom. 85% will present to their physician with a different symptom
Between 20% - 40% of women with Multiple Sclerosis have a relapse within the 3 months post partum (after giving birth) vitamin D levels are lowest after birth
Complete or partial remission of symptoms will occur in approx 70% of patients, particularly during the early stages of the disease
Males have a higher tendency to develop Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)
Females tend to experience more relapses than men
5% of Multiple Sclerosis patients exhibit an inappropriate euphoria
Approx 50% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis experience cognitive impairment such as difficulty with concentration, attention, memory and poor judgment Low cognition is associated with low vitamin D
Approx 50% of Multiple Sclerosis patients will suffer some form of mental disturbance such as depression, mild dementia or organic psychosis
2/3 of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will develop disturbance of sphincter control at some stage during the course of the disease
The major bowel complaint is constipation although fecal incontinence may occur occasionally in some patients
Depression is common and unrelated to cognitive impairment although it may worsen existing cognitive difficulties SAD is associated with low level of vitamin D
Approx 10% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will suffer severe psychotic disorders such as Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder) and paranoia
In approx 80% of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers, heat will cause a temporary worsening of symptoms (Uhthoff's Phenomenon).
- The heat source may be externally produced, for example, a hot bath; or the result of physical exertion.
- Removal of the heat source / cooling normally, though not always, eliminates the problem, although this can take from a few minutes to several hours.
60% of neurological signs experienced during hyperthermia (i.e. Uhthoff's phenomenon) are new to the patient.
Some heat sensitive patients find a cool bath or swimming temporarily relieves some symptoms
Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients develop, on average, 20 new lesions per year and will have between 1 – 2 exacerbations per year
For every 8 – 10 new lesions shown by MRI, only 1 clinical manifestation (measurable exacerbation) will occur
Patients with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis have a higher incidence of spinal cord lesion and exhibit much more rapid development of disability than those with other forms of the disease
1 in every 4, or 25%, of exacerbations are associated with a viral infection
Approx 75% - 85% of patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) will go on to develop Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
Approx 80% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis experience fatigue Vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with Fatigue
Spasticity will occur in approx 60% of patients with a progressive form of the disease
80% - 90% of men and 45% - 70% of women will report some form of sexual dysfunction
Patients with Multiple Sclerosis have a greater risk of seizure than in the general population Seizures are associated with low level of vitamin D
Lesions may occur in the Corpus Callosum, an area of the brain thought to be involved in seizures
Exercises or physical therapy designed to stretch the muscles, particularly those of the leg, can help prevent contractures, an irreversible shortening of muscles.