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It is estimated that multiple sclerosis (MS) affects Nearly 3 million people Globally, according to the National MS Society. Neurological disease causes muscle weakness , vision disorders, numbness, loss of equilibrium and memory problems, explains the Cleveland Clinic. Now, the researchers have identified five symptoms as an early alert signs that may appear up to 15 years earlier than the typical start of MS.

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Mental health disorders and neurological symptoms are linked to early MS.

Fatigue, headache, stunning and mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, have been identified as "first indicators" of multiple sclerosis in a revolutionary study published in Jama Network Open .

According to patient health records, symptoms have become "significantly high" up to 15 years before "the classic sep beginning", suggesting that chronic disease "could start much earlier than before", according to their results. The authors highlighted the need for previous intervention to help accelerate diagnostic rates and the course of treatment / management.

"MS can be difficult to recognize as much of the first signs - such as fatigue, headache, pain and mental health problems - can be quite general and easily confused with other conditions", author of the study Helen Tremlett , PHD, professor of neurology at the Faculty of Medicine and Investigation of the UBC at the Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, said in A press release . "Our results considerably change the calendar when these early alert signs begin, potentially opening the door to previous detection and intervention opportunities."

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Patients with MS have looked for medical aid up to 15 years before diagnosis.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have analyzed 25 years of medical stories and types of visits to the doctor to achieve their results. According to the college, this is the first study to dig as far in the clinical history of patients, five to 10 years being the norm in previous studies.

The meta-analysis included 12,220 combined patients, 2,038 of which had multiple sclerosis. Compared to all the others, patients with MS had more visits to psychiatrist and general doctors, as well as greater cases of fatigue, dizziness and eye pain.

We have found that high rates of problems and visits linked to mental health to psychiatrists, as well as poorly defined symptoms and signs and general visits, began from 15 years before the appearance of SEP symptoms, preceding the rise in visits linked to the problems of the nervous system or consultations with neurologists about seven to 11 years, "wrote the authors.

The results showed the following models in "The years preceding the classic beginning of MS".

• 15 years earlier: more frequent and increased general doctor visits fatigue, dizziness, headache, anxiety and depression
• 12 years earlier: an increase in psychiatrist appointments
• Upon nine years earlier: an increase in visits to neurologists and in ophthalmologist
• Three to five years before: emergency medicine visits and radiology soar
• A year earlier: patients are looking for specialized doctors linked to neurology, emergency medicine and radiology

"These models suggest that MS has a long and complex prodrome phase - where something is happening below but has not yet declared itself as MS," said the first author Marta Ruiz-Algueró , PHD, a postdoctoral scholarship holder at the UBC. "We are only starting to understand what are these early alert signs, with health problems related to health seems to be among the first indicators."

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The point to take away:

A new study revealed that fatigue, dizzy and headache, as well as feelings of anxiety and depression, could be signs of early alert of multiple sclerosis. These symptoms were presented up to 15 years in patients with SEP before the revealing signs of the disease become perceptible.

Despite this correlation, researchers note that these symptoms can also be linked to other underlying problems. Many people can experience episodes of fatigue, dizzy and anxiety, and never develop the disease. However, they say that "the recognition and characterization of the MS Prodrome could one day help to accelerate diagnosis and improve results for patients".

"By identifying these previous red flags, we may possibly intervene earlier, whether by monitoring, support or support or preventive strategies," noted Tremlett. "It opens up new ways for research on early biomarkers, life factors and other potential triggers that can be at stake during this phase of the disease previously neglected."