While many with MS will experience depression or anxiety at some point, more rarely, some people experience changes to their emotions or behaviour that don't seem to make sense, or that they aren't able to control.
In MS, personality seems especially important, for in addition to frequent personality changes and disorders, patients have more dysfunctional personality profiles, characterized by low levels of Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness, and a high level of Neuroticism (Maggio et al., 2020).
Contents. You may have to adapt your daily life if you're diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), but with the right care and support many people can lead long, active and healthy lives.
MS symptoms include muscle weakness, visual acuity loss, sphincter incontinence, fatigue, anxiety, depression and cognitive deficits. Upon receiving the diagnosis, MS patients can report various conflicting emotional reactions, like shock, anxiety, fear, sadness, sorrow or anger [3].
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Studies have shown that MS disrupts several social cognitive abilities [including empathy and theory of mind (ToM)].
In other words, this study suggests that people with MS have a tendency to experience anger more often than those who do not have MS.
Cognitive decline is recognized as a prevalent and debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), especially deficits in episodic memory and processing speed.
Factors that may trigger MS include: Exposure to certain viruses or bacteria: Some research suggests that being exposed to certain infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus) can trigger MS later in life. Where you live: Your environment may play a role in your risk for developing MS.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Common symptoms include fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, sexual problems, pain, cognitive and mood changes such as depression, muscular changes and visual changes.
Disease Course of MS Is Unpredictable
A person with benign MS will have few symptoms or loss of ability after having MS for about 15 years, while most people with MS would be expected to have some degree of disability after that amount of time, particularly if their MS went untreated.
MS is not directly inherited from parent to child. There's no single gene that causes it. Over 200 genes might affect your chances of getting MS. But genes are only part of the story.
In relationships
People with MS and their partners tell us living with the condition can create both physical and emotional barriers, which can put a strain on relationships. For some couples, worries about MS and uncertainty about the future can cause a breakdown in communication and intimacy.
According to a study from 2018 [11], the histrionic and narcissistic personality types are frequently encountered in MS patients, along with the avoidant personality described in an earlier study [12].
Constant fatigue is common for people with MS. This tiredness can impact all aspects of life, including effective brain use and the ability to go out and partake in activities. The symptoms of MS can cause constant discomfort and disability that limit a person's ability to go about daily activities.
Evidence shows that low vitamin D levels, smoking and obesity all play important roles in the development of MS. Many viruses and bacteria have been or are being investigated in connection with MS as well.
But ongoing research shows many reasons could be at play, including your genes, where you live, and even the air you breathe. Though some things, like emotional trauma and infection, can worsen MS symptoms, there is no evidence to suggest that anything you do could cause the disease or stop its natural progress.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking.
Disinhibition is one of the rarest behavioural symptoms of MS and only a very small percentage of people are affected. It is linked to MS-related damage in the brain. People experiencing disinhibition lose control over their impulses, leading to inappropriate behaviour and a loss of their sense of social rules.
As you come to terms with having MS you may start to feel differently about yourself and withdraw from intimacy. It is natural to not want sex. Try to keep on communicating to your partners so that they can understand the changes and give you space. Many people enjoy finding new ways of being intimate together.
Multiple sclerosis can take a toll on all your relationships. If your symptoms flare, you might not be able to go to family dinners or social events after work. You may feel that you've let people down. MS also can affect your self-esteem.
People may experience such things as forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and confusion. Brain fog is also referred to as “brain haze” or “cog fog” — short for cognitive fog. As we know, MS is a disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Findings from a 2022 study suggest that people with MS are at increased risk of Alzheimer's dementia at both younger (45 to 64) and older (65 and up) ages. Because Alzheimer's is diagnosed without any lab test, no current data is solid.
The researchers found that over the past 25 years, life expectancy for people with MS has increased. However, they also found that the median age of survival of people with MS was 76 years, versus 83 years for the matched population.