MINNEAPOLIS – A new study has shown that multiple sclerosis can have a greater impact on black people than it does on white MS patients. The study is published online in Neurology, the medical journal of American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found that MS patients of color had lower scores in certain neurological measures, such as walking and dexterity. They also showed greater evidence of disease progression when brain scans were performed."While lower socioeconomic status seems to be associated with doing worse on neurologic performance tests in white people living with MS," stated Lana Zhovtis Ryerson MD of NYU Langone Health in New York City and member of the American Academy of Neurology.The study included 1,214 Black people and 7,530 white people. Researchers also examined socioeconomic status by neighborhood, which was used to determine 288 of the Black participants in the study and 1 046 of the whites.Researchers also examined common neurological tests that MS patients may have. A 50-question cognitive processing test was administered to Black people with MS. On average, they scored five points less than whites with MS. Black people with MS averaged 2.11 seconds slower in manual dexterity tests.Researchers found that brain lesions can be a sign of disease progression and were more common in Blacks than they were for whites.The researchers then examined the smaller group using a more precise measure of socioeconomic status. Lower household income was associated to slower cognitive processing, slower walking speeds and worse socioeconomic scores. Slower cognitive processing and slower manual dexterity speeds were also associated with white MS patients. Lower income was not associated with lower manual dexterity in the Black participants. Lower socioeconomic status was not associated to slower cognitive processing, walking, or manual dexterity speeds.Zhovtis Ryerson stated that future studies should examine the impact of unmeasured factors such as systemic racism on greater disability among Black MS patients. These results reinforce the need to conduct more clinical trials and research that focuses on Black patients in order to determine if certain treatments or aggressive early treatment can slow down disability.The study has some limitations. It was only able to reflect one time point and could not be used to show associations over time.###BrainandLife.org is the website of the American Academy of Neurology, which offers information about multiple sclerosis. It also hosts a free caregiver and patient magazine. This magazine focuses on brain health and neurologic disease. Follow Brain & Life Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.We encourage you to use #Neurology or #AANscience hashtags when posting about this research on social media.With over 36,000 members, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is the largest international association of neurologists and other neuroscience professionals. The AAN promotes the best possible patient-centered neurologic care. Neurologists are doctors who have specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disorders of the brain or nervous system, such as Alzheimer's, stroke, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.Visit AAN.com for more information on the American Academy of Neurology. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Media Contacts: Renee Tessman at rtessman@aan.com (612) 928-6137M.A. Rosko, mrosko@aan.com (612) 928-6169
