When you first get the diagnosis that you have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), you may feel angry, incredulous, helpless. You may feel as though your own body is betraying you.

MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system whereby the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and the body is disrupted.[i] While MS can cause obvious disability, it also has invisible symptoms, such as fatigue. Since you can’t always tell if someone has MS, it makes it hard to know what someone might be going through. But as MS stays with you for life, having the right physical care and emotional support are absolutely essential.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your own immune cells attack your central nervous system (CNS), which includes your brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. [i]

Our nerves have a protective coating called myelin, which helps send messages quickly between the brain and the rest of the body. In MS, for unknown reasons, immune cells attack myelin. When the myelin becomes damaged, these messages become distorted, slow down, or don’t go through at all. This in turn affects how you see, think, move, and feel.[ii]

MS can also cause damage to the actual nerve fibres and cause disability.[iii]

There are two main types of MS.

Relapsing Remitting MS (85%)[i] - You may experience relapses or episodes of new or worsening of old symptoms. A relapse can be mild or severe, and will be different for each person. The period in between the relapses is known as remission, and can last for years.[ii]

About 80% of people diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS will eventually progress to Secondary Progressive MS. In this type of MS, symptoms gradually worsen over time with or without relapses.[iii]

Primary Progressive MS (15%)[iv] - In this type of MS, neurologic function immediately starts to get worse from the start of experiencing symptoms.[v]

There is no single test to determine if you have MS. Doctors will perform a number of tests, including blood tests, MRIs, spinal fluid tests, and more.

Depending on the type of MS you have, symptoms may come and go in phases, or get steadily worse over time.[i]

Some common symptoms include: [ii]

• Blurred vision (often one of the first signs of MS)
• Numbness or tingling in different parts of your body
• Feeling weakness in your muscles
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Mood changes
• Difficulty walking and balance problems
• Bladder and/or bowel problems
• Memory problems[iii]

In addition to these debilitating neurologic symptoms, people with MS often also suffer from fatigue and depression, both of which severely reduce their quality of life.[iv] Fatigue especially is one of the prime symptoms of MS.[v]

More than 2.3 million people worldwide live with MS, 700,000 of whom live in Europe.[i]

Experts still aren’t sure what causes MS, but agree that it is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors.[ii] MS is less common in sunny, tropical countries near the equator, and more common in countries farther away from the equator – regardless of someone’s ethnical background.[iii]

Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and women are up to three times as likely as men to be diagnosed with the disease.[iv]

While the majority of people with MS have years of remission where they can live relatively normal lives, 80 % of MS patients stop working within 15 years of the onset of the disease, as worsening symptoms cause ever-worsening disability.[v]

Like too many diseases, there still isn’t a cure for MS. While research is underway to treat, slow and stop the progression of MS, people with MS can manage their specific symptoms through exercise, medicine, and physiotherapy.[i] Studies have shown that starting treatment within three months after diagnosis has a favourable influence on the course of the disease.[ii]

For those who have Relapsing Remitting MS or Secondary Progressive MS with relapses, medicines called disease-modifying therapies can help slow or reduce the overall worsening of disability.[iii] Unfortunately, there are no treatment options to slow the progress of Primary Progressive MS or Secondary Progressive MS without relapses.[iv]

Dealing with ever-worsening symptoms can make people with MS feel frustrated and depressed. Self-care is key. It means taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, and being honest with the people involved in your care about how you’re doing. They may feel anxious and frustrated too. So, let them know what you need – whether that is more support from them, or simply time for yourself.

It’s important to think about your specific situation, and what you might need to have the best quality of life possible.[i] Remember that with the right physical and mental care – from yourself and others – you can live a long, healthy and active independent life.

Have regular check-ups, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. This will help reduce fatigue and improve strength, mobility, and bowel and bladder function.

If you feel that you need support outside of your family or circle of friends, ask your doctor about counselling or local MS support groups. Staying mentally strong is just as important as your staying on top of your physical reviews.[ii]

1. What kind of Multiple Sclerosis do I have?
2. What symptoms should I watch for?
3. Will I have new symptoms? Will they get worse over time or even stay with me forever?
4. What can I do to manage my symptoms?
5. Do I need medication?
6. Can exercise or physical therapy help me feel better?
7. Should I adjust my diet to help slow the progression of the disease or manage certain symptoms?
8. What about my future? How will this affect my lifestyle?
9. Can I still have children?
10. Will I still be able to walk with MS?

Janssen is deeply dedicated to finding pioneering breakthroughs in the Neurodegeneration Disease Area Stronghold (DAS). With an innovative approach and new ways of thinking, Janssen is achieving critical results in the search for MS treatments.

Our scientists and physicians measure their work in terms of progress, rather than through the stark lens of success or failure. While there currently isn’t a cure for MS, we are confident that new therapeutic options can provide strong efficacy and demonstrable impact on fatigue - the number one symptom impacting quality of life for patients. Progress with research gives us reason for hope. [i]

• Central Nervous System (CNS): the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves
• Myelin: the protective coating around nerve fibres in the central nervous system
• Neurons: the CNS communicates by sending signals through nerve cells, also called neurons. These neurons help you process and respond to the world around you.
• Dizziness: feels like you are off-balance or lightheaded
• Vertigo: feels like your surroundings are spinning
• Immune system: a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that help the body fight infections and other diseases.
• · Autoimmune disease: a condition in which your immune system mistakes part of your body as foreign and attacks your body, instead of protecting it. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells.