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General Information about Multiple Sclerosis |
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First Diagnosed in 1849 |
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The earliest known description of a person with possible Multiple
Sclerosis dates from 14th century Holland |
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Multiple Sclerosis is the most common progressive and disabling
neurological condition in young adults |
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Approx 2.5 million people worldwide, have Multiple Sclerosis
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Around 400,000 people in the United States have Multiple Sclerosis
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In the UK, approx 70,000 people have the disease |
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Approx 50,000 people in Canada have Multiple Sclerosis |
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Scotland has the highest incidence of Multiple Sclerosis per head
of population in the world |
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In Scotland, over 10,500 people have Multiple Sclerosis |
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No virus has ever been isolated as the cause of Multiple Sclerosis |
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Average age of clinical onset is 30 – 33 years of age |
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The average age of diagnosis is 37 years of age |
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The average time between clinical onset of MS and diagnosis by
physicians is 4 - 5 years |
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10% of cases are diagnosed after the age of fifty |
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In 1936, only 8% of patients were reported to survive beyond 20
years after onset of illness |
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In 1961, over 80% of Multiple Sclerosis patients were reported
surviving to 20 years after onset of illness |
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2002 – A patient with Multiple Sclerosis can expect to live to
average population life-expectancy minus seven years (mean life
expectancy - 7 years) |
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Multiple Sclerosis is five times more prevalent in temperate climates
than in tropical climates |
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Multiple Sclerosis affects women much more frequently than men.
Approx. 1.7 – 2:1 in the US and approx 3:2 in the UK |
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The ratio of white to non-white is approx 2:1 |
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Gypsies and Inuit's do get Multiple Sclerosis although the incidence
rate is much lower than other populations at approx 19 per 100,000
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Native Indians of North and South America, the Japanese and other
Asian peoples have a very low incidence rate of Multiple Sclerosis
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In identical twins where one twin develops the disease, the likelihood
of the second twin developing Multiple Sclerosis is approx 30%
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The incidence rate for non-identical twins, where one contracts
Multiple Sclerosis, is approx 4% |
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The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if a first-degree relative
(father, mother, sibling) has the disease, is approx 1% - 3% overall
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The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if your father has
the disease is approx 1 in 100 |
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The risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis if your mother has
the disease is approx 1 in 50 |
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The risk among the general population of contracting Multiple
Sclerosis is approx 1 in 800 |
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