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- Title
Comparing the Pathology, Clinical, and Demographic Characteristics of Younger and Older‐Onset Multiple Sclerosis.
- Authors
Knowles, Sarah; Middleton, Rod; Cooze, Benjamin; Farkas, Ildiko; Leung, Yeung Yeung; Allen, Kelsey; Winslade, Molly; Owen, David R.J.; Magliozzi, Roberta; Reynolds, Richard; Neal, James W.; Pearson, Owen; Nicholas, Richard; Pickrell, W. Owen; Howell, Owain W.
- Abstract
Objective: Older people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a less active radiological and clinical presentation, but many still attain significant levels of disability; but what drives worsening disability in this group? Methods: We used data from the UK MS Register to characterize demographics and clinical features of late‐onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS; symptom onset at ≥50 years), compared with adult‐onset MS (AOMS; onset 18–49 years). We performed a pathology study of a separate MS cohort with a later onset (n = 18, mean age of onset 54 years) versus AOMS (n = 23, mean age of onset 29 years). Results: In the Register cohort, there were 1,608 (9.4%) with LOMS. When compared with AOMS, there was a lower proportion of women, a higher proportion of primary progressive MS, a higher level of disability at diagnosis (median MS impact scale 36.7 vs. 28.3, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of gait‐related initial symptoms. People with LOMS were less likely to receive a high efficacy disease‐modifying treatment and attained substantial disability sooner. Controlling for age of death and sex, neuron density in the thalamus and pons decreased with onset‐age, whereas actively demyelinating lesions and compartmentalized inflammation was greatest in AOMS. Only neuron density, and not demyelination or the extent of compartmentalized inflammation, correlated with disability outcomes in older‐onset MS patients. Interpretation: The more progressive nature of older‐onset MS is associated with significant neurodegeneration, but infrequent inflammatory demyelination. These findings have implications for the assessment and treatment of MS in older people. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:471–486
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; DEMOGRAPHIC characteristics; MULTIPLE sclerosis; PATHOLOGY; OLDER people; SYMPTOMS
- Publication
Annals of Neurology, 2024, Vol 95, Issue 3, p471
- ISSN
0364-5134
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ana.26843