Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) covering the nerve fibres of the brain and spinal cord. Although MS is a progressive disease, leading to the permanent damage of the nerve fibres and potentially severe disability, there are many different treatment approaches that are designed to reduce relapses and increase time between attacks, ease debilitating symptoms and ultimately slow down disease progression.
Currently, there are several key challenges that people living with MS face. One, there is no specific test that can definitively lead to a diagnosis of MS. Physicians must rely on a multitude of neurological evaluations, radiological MRI scans and symptom tracking, which can differ greatly from patient to patient. Two, we do not yet fully understand the disease biology and underlying immunological causes of MS, so there are no curative treatments, only disease-modifying therapies. Finally, although researchers have made great strides in understanding the mechanisms of MS progression and advancing highly efficacious treatments to slow down auto-immune attacks, some patients do not respond to these treatments and continue to experience progression. The unique journey towards optimising MS diagnosis and care can often have a significant impact on MS patients’ physical as well as psychological well-being.
Today, to help navigate this complex journey, more patients are integrating the concept of shared decision-making, or collaborative care, to help personalise their disease management, improve adherence and ultimately improve MS outcomes.
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