Ageing better with MS – towards evidence-based treatment and better monitoring of people with MS

Over half of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are aged over 50. There is an urgent need for evidence-based treatment and earlier detection of disability progression in older pwMS. Whilst existing disease modifying therapies (DMTs) have demonstrated efficacy for inflammatory aspects of MS at early disease stages, their effectiveness in neurodegeneration at later stages of MS is limited. Combined with the greater risk of events such as infections and malignancy with age, there are concerns about using DMTs to treat older pwMS. Current clinical decision-making can be inconsistent, opinion-based and may expose older pwMS to unnecessary treatment.

Dr Yi Chao Foong and his team aim to establish the effectiveness of DMTs in older pwMS. They will also investigate the risk of side effects related to DMTs in older pwMS, and subsequent risk of disability progression. Understanding the balance between therapeutic benefits and risks is crucial for the use of DMTs in this population. The team also aims to identify digital monitoring tools that may predict early identification of progression or treatment failure, ultimately improving patient outcomes.