b'Life with MSWWhhyyiissIInncclluussiioonnIImmppoorrttaanntti nMMuullttiipplleeSScclleerroossiiss??inBy Annette Okai, MDMultiplesclerosishashistoricallybeen Eects of MS onconsidered a disease mostly aecting people minority populationsof Northern European descent. Over time, the A review of 136 articles published onface of MS has changed. A review of newly minorities in MS show they tend to have a morediagnosed MS patients charts showed that the serious clinical course and worse outcome.incidence of MS varies by ethnicity, meaningsome groups are diagnosed at a higher rate Hispanic Americans are diagnosed at athan others. African Americans actually had younger age and demonstrate a high frequencythe highest rate at 10.2, followed by 6.94 in of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis atCaucasians and 2.9 for Hispanics. The review presentation. The disease progresses at a fasteralso showed up to a 40 percent increase risk rate and more severely compared to Caucasians.of MS in African American women. Hispanic African Americans are also more likely toAmericans had a 50 percent lower risk and present withopticneuritisandtransverseAsian Americans had 80 percent lower risk for myelitis. The course is severe. They haveMS compared to their Caucasian counterparts. frequent relapses, incomplete recovery fromThere have also been dierences observed relapses and more severe in impairment inbetween ethnic groups when it comes to the walking abilities when compared to Caucasians.dierent measures of disease manifestation There are also ndings that linked dicultiesand progression in MS. MS-specic mortality with cognition to loss of brain tissue on MRI.trends show distinctive dierences by race/ This nding is more rapid in African Americans.ethnicity and age, suggesting there is an (For more on these dierences, see Diversityunequal burden of disease in non-Caucasians of MS Presentation Across Ethnicity and Racewith MS. on page 16 of this issue.)msfocusmagazine.org 12'