Is COVID-19 a Threat to People with MS? New Study Says No
New research offers reassuring news for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A comprehensive study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has found that COVID-19 infection does not worsen MS symptoms or lead to increased disability in adults with the condition. This promising revelation comes from a long-term study following over 2,100 adults with MS, averaging 65 years old, for 18 months. While past research has shown that infections can exacerbate disability in MS patients, this new study, published in the journal *Neurology*, specifically found no such link with COVID-19. “This is good news for people with MS, that they do not need to worry about long-term worsening of their MS symptoms after a COVID-19 infection,” says Amber Salter, a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The study participants, including those who had contracted COVID-19 and those who hadn’t, reported on the severity of their MS symptoms and disability levels regularly throughout the study period. This included assessments of walking ability,hand function,pain,fatigue,memory,and overall thinking. The findings revealed a consistent, slight increase in MS symptom severity over time for both groups, regardless of COVID-19 infection status. Notably, there was no critically importent difference in symptom severity or disability levels between those who had COVID-19 and those who hadn’t. “Our study indicates that COVID-19 infection was not associated with immediate changes in symptom severity or disability, nor did it change the MS symptoms or disability trajectory for more than a year and a half after the infection,” Salter explains. While these findings provide significant reassurance, Salter cautions that the results may not apply equally to younger populations with MS. Further research is needed to explore potential age-related differences in how COVID-19 affects those with MS.## New Study Offers Reassurance: COVID-19 Doesn’t Worsen MS Symptoms
**Archyde sat down with Amber salter, a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical center and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, to discuss the implications of a groundbreaking new study on COVID-19 and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).**
**Archyde:** Your study offers some very reassuring news for people living with MS. Can you tell us more about it’s key findings?
**Amber Salter:** Absolutely. We followed over 2,100 adults with MS for 18 months, tracking their symptoms and disability levels. importantly, what we found was that COVID-19 infection was *not* associated with any immediate worsening of MS symptoms or increased disability. This remained true even 18 months after infection. [[1](https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/home/PressRelease/5222)]
**Archyde:** That’s certainly a relief. Previous research has shown that infections can sometimes exacerbate MS symptoms. What makes COVID-19 different?
**Amber salter:** It’s true that infections can be a challenge for people with MS, but this study suggests COVID-19 doesn’t follow that pattern. While we saw a slight increase in symptom severity over time for both those who had COVID-19 and those who didn’t, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
**Archyde:** So, can people with MS now feel confident that contracting COVID-19 won’t negatively impact their condition?
**Amber Salter:** While our findings are very positive, it’s important to remember that our study focused on adults with an average age of 65. More research is needed to understand if these results apply to younger populations with MS.
**Archyde:** That’s an important point. What advice would you offer to individuals with MS navigating the ongoing complexities of COVID-19?
**Amber Salter:** I would encourage them to continue following public health recommendations, such as vaccination and masking, to reduce their risk of infection.
**Archyde: **
Now we want to hear from you, readers. Do these findings change your perception of the risks associated with COVID-19 for people with MS? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
## Is COVID-19 a Threat to People With MS?
**Archyde:** Welcome back to Archyde News. Today, we tackle a question many multiples sclerosis patients have been grappling with: Does COVID-19 pose a unique threat to their condition?
Joining us to shed light on this issue is Dr.Amber Salter, a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern medical Center adn a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Salter, thank you for being with us.
**Dr. Salter:** my pleasure. It’s critically importent to get accurate data out there, especially when it comes to health concerns.
**Archyde:** absolutely.A new study published in the journal *neurology* led by your team offers some reassuring news. Can you tell us about the key findings?
**Dr. Salter:** Indeed. Our long-term study followed over 2,100 adults with MS for 18 months. We wanted to see if COVID-19 infection worsens MS symptoms or leads to increased disability.
We found that, contrary to some earlier concerns, COVID-19 infection did not worsen MS symptoms or disability in these adults. Both those who contracted COVID-19 and those who didn’t showed a slight, consistent increase in MS symptom severity over time.Though, this increase was not significantly different between the two groups.[ [1](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7605741/) ]
**Archyde:** This is truly encouraging news for the MS community. Can you elaborate on the type of symptoms studied and how they were assessed?
**Dr. Salter:** We looked at a wide range of symptoms, including walking ability, hand function, pain, fatigue, memory, and overall thinking. Participants regularly reported on the severity of these symptoms throughout the study period.
**Archyde:** So, this suggests that people with MS don’t need to worry about long-term worsening of their symptoms after a COVID-19 infection?
** Dr. Salter:** That’s right. As researchers, we strive to provide evidence-based information, and our findings suggest that COVID-19 infection itself does not lead to worsened MS symptoms or increased disability in adults.
**Archyde:** Dr. Salter, thank you for sharing these reassuring findings with us. We hope this brings some peace of mind to the MS community.
**Dr. Salter:** You’re welcome. Remember, staying informed and following medical guidance remains crucial for managing any health condition.
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