Study Reveals Covid-19 Link to Increased Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Covid-19 may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research from Örebro University and Örebro University Hospital in Sweden.

Scott Montgomery led the study, examining hospital records of Covid-19 patients in Sweden from 2020 to 2022. The research found that about 26 out of every 100,000 patients with severe Covid-19 developed MS after their illness. This rate is more than double the risk for those without a Covid-19 diagnosis.

Montgomery noted that MS is an uncommon disease. He emphasized that only 0.02% of the patients studied were diagnosed with MS after experiencing severe Covid-19. He believes more cases of MS linked to Covid-19 may appear over the next 10 to 20 years, as the disease can take time to manifest.

He hopes this research will lead to earlier MS diagnosis for affected individuals, allowing for timely treatment. Early treatment can improve the quality of life for MS patients and slow the progression of the disease.

Montgomery advised that most people who had Covid-19 will not develop MS, so they should not be overly concerned. However, individuals showing symptoms of MS should seek medical advice. He also highlighted the importance of vaccinations to prevent severe Covid-19 symptoms.

Montgomery noted that more severe Covid-19 is linked to a higher risk of MS, possibly revealing dormant MS. Similar studies are examining other diseases that may arise after Covid-19 infection. Continuous research aims to identify diseases linked to severe Covid-19, helping to monitor and support affected patients timely.

This research is published in the journal Brain Communications.

For further reading, see the study: Montgomery, S., et al. (2024) SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of subsequent demyelinating diseases: national register-based cohort study. Brain Communications. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae406.