About multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis types

Although each type of MS disease can differ from person to person, four main categories of multiple sclerosis are identified. The categorization of this disease is important because it helps predict how severe the disease can be, as well as to adjust the treatment.

Relapsing-Remitting MS

Most of the people diagnosed with this disease (around 85%), suffer from relapsing-remitting MS. The first signs of this kind of MS appear at the 20s, and after that, they have repetitive attacks of symptoms, from time to time. Attacks are followed by weeks, months, or even years of recovery. Most of those people eventually move to a secondary progressive phase of MS.

Primary Progressive MS

This type is characterized by gradually getting worse over time. The attacks of symptoms are not well-defined, and there is no recovery. Around 10 percent of diseased have this type. It usually attacks people over the age of 40s and leads to disability earlier than other types.

Secondary Progressive MS

After 10 or 20 years of being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, people usually move to secondary progressive MS. In that stage, symptoms begin steady, without relapses. The older one is when is diagnosed with MS, the less time it takes for a disease to move to secondary phase. This type is difficult to treat. Symptoms get worse at a different rate for every person.

Progressive Relapsing MS

This type is the least common. Only 5% of people diagnosed with MS get this type. Neurological functions steadily get worse, but a person might experience some occasional relapses, which is similar to Relapsing Remitting multiple sclerosis.