Tim Ferguson. Tim Ferguson is one of Australia's most accomplished comedians. He has battled Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 30 years, but it won't get in his way! His new live show A Fast Life on Wheels sees this comedy legend rips the lid off his extraordinary life.
Christina Applegate is opening up about living with multiple sclerosis, and how finishing her acclaimed show “Dead to Me” was important to her.
Multiple sclerosis itself is not usually lethal, but it can increase the risk of long-term complications, such as infections or trouble swallowing, that can potentially shorten survival. On average, longevity is about five to 10 years shorter in people with MS.
Although there is no cure for MS, we can see a future where people can live free from its effects and not worry about their MS getting worse. There are now a number of health conditions - like rheumatoid arthritis or Type 1 diabetes – where there are no cures.
Median survival time from onset of symptoms to death was 42 years. When expected survival rates are compared with those of the Australian population, there is approximately a 10% reduction in survival time in multiple sclerosis patients, after 20 years or more from disease onset.
The prevalence of MS in Australia has increased from 103.7 per 100,000 people in 2017 to 131.1 per 100,000 people in 2021. This increase in prevalence is most likely due to changes in exposure to known MS risk factors.
MS can appear at any age but most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 40. It affects women two to three times as often as men. Almost one million people in the United States have MS, making it one of the most common causes of neurological disability among young adults in North America.
The study found that people with MS lived to be 75.9 years old, on average, compared to 83.4 years old for those without. That 7.5-year difference is similar to what other researchers have found recently.
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.
Although more people are being diagnosed with MS today than in the past, the reasons for this are not clear. Likely contributors include greater awareness of the disease, better access to medical care and improved diagnostic capabilities. There is no definitive evidence that the rate of MS is generally on the increase.
Body Fat and Obesity
Inflammation plays a role in MS, and obesity is linked to inflammation. Mowry says that the rising incidence of MS among women may relate to body fat. Obesity is epidemic in the U.S., with over a third of American adults at a body mass index of 30 or higher.
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 not generally considered life-threatening and most people will live a normal life-span. One study has found that the average life expectancy for people with MS is 76 years of age.
Ultimately, MS is a chronic illness, not a terminal one. While it can slightly shorten life expectancy, Chitnis says the reduction is unsubstantial: “I have seen many MS patients who live to be 70 or 80 years old.”
Epidemiology of MS After Age 55
Only 3.4% of people with MS are diagnosed with RMS after age 50, considered late-onset MS, and only 1% are diagnosed after the age 60, considered very late-onset MS.
As you get older, MS becomes more of a progressive disease. You might notice your MS symptoms start to get worse just as you reach menopause.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for MS
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising new approach to treating MS. MSCs are multipotent cells that can differentiate into various cell types, including nerve cells. They also have immunomodulatory properties, which can modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Natural remedies and therapies for MS offer alternative approaches to managing this neurodegenerative disease. Although there is no cure for MS, these treatments aim to promote immune health, slow disease progression, and alleviate symptoms.
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.