Health
Five Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis
Health Points
- Fatigue, headaches and dizziness may show up years before diagnosis.
- Anxiety and depression often lead to earlier mental-health visits.
- Patterns of doctor appointments suggest a prolonged prodromal phase.
UBC researchers reviewed 25 years of medical records from more than 12,000 people to identify long-term patterns that preceded multiple sclerosis diagnoses.
The study suggests that non-specific complaints can emerge up to 15 years before classic neurologic signs, offering a potential window for earlier monitoring.
“MS can be difficult to recognize as many of the earliest signs—like fatigue, headache, pain and mental health concerns—can be quite general and easily mistaken for other conditions.”
“We’re only now starting to understand what these early warning signs are, with mental health-related issues appearing to be among the earliest indicators.”
If persistent symptoms worry you, talk with your healthcare provider about appropriate evaluation and next steps.
