How age at MS diagnosis affects physical and mental health

A Canadian study has found that the age someone develops multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect their long-term physical and mental wellbeing.

People diagnosed at a younger age tend to report better physical health but worse mental health than those diagnosed later. These differences remain over time, even as physical health generally declines and mental wellbeing improves for all.

The study analysed data from 699 people taking part in the Canadian Prospective Cohort Study (CanProCo), supported by Biogen Canada, Roche Canada, and the Brain Canada Foundation. Most participants had relapsing remitting MS (93%), with an average age of symptom onset of 33. Around 17% first experienced symptoms before age 25, and 2.3% had paediatric-onset MS (diagnosed before age 18). On average, they had been living with MS for nearly five years.

Using the MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54), researchers found that for every five-year increase in age at onset, physical health scores dropped by 1.5 points. In contrast, mental health scores rose by 2.5 points for every 12-year increase in age at onset – both clinically meaningful changes.

Differences in outcomes weren’t fully explained by how long someone had lived with MS. Disability levels (measured by EDSS) explained around 60% of the variation, but other factors like self-management and social support may also play a role.

The findings highlight the need for more age-specific support, rather than simply grouping people by paediatric or adult-onset MS.