Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to you.

Who Gets MS?

Who Gets MS

Have you ever wondered who gets MS and why? I wondered that too, especially after Cir was diagnosed. And when we recalled that an earlier doctor had said he couldn't have it because he was African American and male. Obviously he was wrong.

There have been so many studies done and so much research about the question, that we do have some answers. But these answers sometimes lead to more questions. How about we stick to the questions we can answer.

Who actually figures out the answers to questions like, who gets MS? An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies patterns of disease. They can look at different factors like gender, genetics, age, geography, and ethnic background. When the numbers are in from all around the world, certain patterns come into view.

How many?

How Many People Get MS

First of all, the number of people that have MS in the US is around 400,000. And about 200 people are diagnosed every week. In the world, there are about 2.5 million people who have multiple sclerosis.


Unfortunately, there are many people who may have minor symptoms that never end up at the doctor's office. They might think that their symptoms are due to stress or nerves, and don't feel that a doctor visit is warranted. They may never experience debilitating illness.


These people may have lesions throughout their central nervous system (CNS). And only through diagnostic tools like MRI's, would you even know that they were there. They are said to have "silent" MS. In fact, they may not even be "diagnosed", so to speak, until after their death.

How old?

How Old When You Get MS

Another question many want to know about who gets MS, has to do with age. If you look at averages, the average age of diagnosis is between 20 and 40 years old. This is around the time when most people are beginning or establishing their careers. So it can be particularly devastating to many MSers.


Many MSers can look back and remember their first symptoms occurring in early childhood or in their teens. Pediatric or childhood MS may seem to be on the rise, when in fact it was there all along. It is very rare, that MS symptoms will happen before the age of 10 or after the age of 50.


Again, looking at averages, the average age of onset is 28 for men and slightly lower for women. And the average age of diagnosis is 33. Using Cir as an example, his age of diagnosis was 34, so he definitely falls within that statistic.

Find more about Who Gets MS - Part 2, or here for Part 3

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Dear Friends,

"Life in Spite of MS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We're also part of the Ebay Partner Network, another affiliate program."

We'd also like you to know it doesn't cost one cent more  when you click through the links here on our blog. Not one single penny. And we will make a little extra cash when you do click through. We'll be ever so appreciative. You also have our word that we'll only link to things that we would use ourselves, (or wish we could have or use).

Sincerely,

Cir & Akrista

You are reading original content written by Akrista or Cir L'Bert of Life in Spite of MS. If you enjoyed reading this blog, please consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. See you there!


New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Enjoy this page? Why not pay it forward? Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
var l = window.location.href, d = document; document.write('<form action="#"><div style="text-align:center"><textarea cols="50" rows="2" onclick="this.select();"><a href="'+l+'">'+d.title+'</a></textarea></div></form>');

Privacy Policy ~ Advertising Policy ~ DisclaimerContact Us ~ About Us

SBI!