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May is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, a time to spread awareness, promote understanding, and support those living with MS. You can learn more about MS symptoms, causes, and treatments here.
MS is full of complexity and curiosity. Here are 6 facts that might surprise you.
1. The First (Known) Case of MS? Maybe a 14th Century Saint
The first documented case of MS is usually credited to Augustus d’Este, a 19th-century aristocrat and cousin of Queen Victoria. He kept detailed diaries of his symptoms, including episodes of temporary blindness, weakness and numbness in his legs, difficulty walking, fatigue, and episodes of relapse and remission. These are now known to be common symptoms of MS.
However, some historians think the earliest known case goes back to Lidwina of Schiedam, a Dutch saint who lived in the 1300s. After a fall while ice skating, she experienced severe health issues for the rest of her life, many of which, like muscle weakness, vision problems, and fatigue, match the modern profile of MS. Lidwina of Schiedam is also considered the patron saint of chronic illness and ice skaters.
Read more about early cases of MS
2. A Tremor, A Mystery, And the Birth of MS Research
MS was first described in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot, a pioneer in neurobiology. His work laid the foundation for understanding the disease today.
Charcot carefully examined a young woman with a tremor of a sort he had never seen before. He noted her other neurological problems including slurred speech and abnormal eye movements and compared them to other patients he had seen. When she died, he examined her brain and found the characteristic scars or “plaques” of MS.
He was baffled by its exact cause, which remains largely unknown to this day.
Learn more about Charcot's discovery
3. Wide-Ranging Symptoms = Difficult to Diagnose
42% of MS patients are initially misdiagnosed due to the wide variety of symptoms. MS is unpredictable and can manifest in many different ways, making early detection a challenge.
Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS, but others include:
- Numbness and tingling
- Memory loss/brain fog
- Muscle spasms and weakness
- Heat sensitivity
- Bladder Problems
- Pain
- Mood disorders
- Vision and hearing problems
Some common MS misdiagnoses include:
- Migraines: Visual disturbances, numbness, and dizziness can mimic MS symptoms.
- Lyme Disease: Neurological Lyme disease can cause numbness, tingling, cognitive issues, and fatigue—very similar to MS.
- Fibromyalgia: Fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive issues (often called “fibro fog”) resemble MS-related fatigue and brain fog.
- Lupus: Both are autoimmune diseases that can affect the central nervous system and cause joint pain, fatigue, and neurological symptoms.
4. There’s a Gender Gap for MS, Too
Women are 2.5 to 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with MS than men, and that gender gap seems to be growing.
Researchers believe the difference may be linked to hormonal and genetic factors, but there’s still a lot we don’t know. The immune system is thought to behave differently in women than in men, and that might contribute to the higher rates. What’s clear is that MS doesn’t follow simple rules, and why it targets who it does remains one of its many mysteries.
5. Location, Location, Location
Where you grow up might influence your risk of developing MS.
People who spend their early years farther from the equator, especially in places with less sunlight, tend to have a higher risk. Researchers think this may be connected to lower vitamin D levels, since sunlight helps the body produce this important immune-regulating nutrient.
Interestingly, some studies have even explored whether latitude affects the age MS symptoms first appear. A 2016 Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry study found that for every 10 degrees of latitude farther from the equator, the age at which MS symptoms first appear tends to be about 10 months earlier. This suggests that environmental factors could also influence the timing of MS onset.
Scotland, Canada, and northern parts of the U.S. all have some of the highest rates of MS in the world.
6. Sweat and Symptoms: The Heat of Uhthoff’s Phenomenon
When MS symptoms worsen with heat, it's called Uhthoff’s phenomenon. This phenomenon is an important part of managing symptoms, as hot weather or saunas can exacerbate the condition.
First noticed in 1890 by German ophthalmologist Dr. Wilhelm Uhthoff, it was originally thought to be caused by physical activity. Later, doctors realized it was actually the rise in body temperature triggering symptoms like blurred vision or fatigue.
Even small increases in heat can disrupt the way damaged nerves send signals in people with MS, leading to a short-term return or worsening of symptoms. Distinct from a relapse, Uhtoff’s Phenomenon is temporary and usually goes away once the body cools down.
For a long time, doctors even used a "hot bath test" to help diagnose MS, but that’s no longer done due to risks and better tools like MRIs. Today, knowing about Uhthoff’s Phenomenon helps patients and healthcare providers manage symptoms more effectively by staying cool and avoiding overheating when possible.
Read more on Uhthoff’s Phenomenon
