Yes, it's possible to have MS and the more severe dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Changes to the brain can be caused by both MS and Alzheimer's disease. People with relapsing-remitting MS, primary progressive MS, secondary progressive MS, and even very mild MS can go on to develop Alzheimer's disease too.
It's also possible to have both MS and another disease that causes dementia. One prevalence study found that in one clinic, 22 percent of people with MS qualified as having possible dementia. Their cognitive impairments consisted mostly of memory problems and slowed thinking.
COGNITIVE ISSUES. These issues include difficulty with memory, concentration, and problem solving, which many people refer to as “cog fog.” Memory loss is the most common mental change in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It can occur at any time in the course of your MS.
Some people experience difficulties when making plans and solving problems. They know what they want to do but find it difficult to know where to begin, or find it difficult to work out the steps involved to achieve their goals. This can lead to confusion and stress, which in turn can hamper learning and memory.
Comorbid MS and AD was reported in a broad range of MS disease courses including relapsing-remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive and so-called 'benign. ' Despite the clear diagnostic challenges involved, these individual case reports provide evidence that AD and MS can coexist in the same person.
Problems with memory and thinking - also called 'cognitive problems' - can affect people with MS, but most people will be affected mildly. Some people find it harder to find the right words, to concentrate or to recall things quickly.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS , the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
MS can cause significant anxiety, distress, anger, and frustration from the moment of its very first symptoms. The uncertainty and unpredictability associated with MS is one of its most distressing aspects. In fact, anxiety is at least as common in MS as depression.
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.
MS can affect mood
worry, fear, moodiness, irritability and anxiety: normal in the face of unpredictability; anyone can become a bit irritable when faced with difficult challenges. depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS and a major risk factor for suicide.
The cloudy thinking you get with brain fog is also very different from cognitive problems associated with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The key difference is that diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's disease affect more than memory. They change your ability to function in your daily life.
MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.
An adult with early-onset dementia may have trouble with memory, language and cognitive skills that can make it difficult to perform routine tasks. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia characterized by progressive brain deterioration, memory loss and an inability to independently care for oneself.
your genes – MS isn't directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3 in 100.
Summary. 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.
Results. MS patients had significantly higher scores on anger intensity (state anger) and trait anger than did controls.
In 1 study, depressive symptoms were the most common neuropsychiatric symptom seen among individuals with MS (Figure 1). Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder seen among individuals with MS.
Most symptoms develop abruptly, within hours or days. These attacks or relapses of MS typically reach their peak within a few days at most and then resolve slowly over the next several days or weeks so that a typical relapse will be symptomatic for about eight weeks from onset to recovery. Resolution is often complete.
Is MS hereditary? 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.
Blood Tests: Currently, there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, but they can be used to rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Difficulty thinking. Fatigue. Pain, which may be acute or chronic, caused by the nerves that carry sensation "short circuiting." Types of pain can include band-like pain around the chest, or MS hug, caused by spastic nerves along with other types of painful sensations in the neck, arms, legs and feet. Sexual problems.