Fatigue, Anxiety, Pain? They Might Be MS in Disguise

Fatigue, anxiety, pain? They might be MS in disguise

New research suggests that multiple sclerosis (MS) may quietly begin affecting the body up to 15 years before the first obvious neurological symptoms appear. Researchers found a steady increase in healthcare visits related to vague symptoms like fatigue, pain, and mental health issues, with noticeable patterns of doctor consultations long before diagnosis.

Signs of MS Emerge 15 Years Before Diagnosis

A large-scale analysis of health records reveals that subtle signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) may appear more than a decade before diagnosis. People who eventually develop MS began increasing healthcare visits—especially for general symptoms like fatigue, pain, and anxiety—15 years before neurologists identified their first demyelinating event.