What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? 

MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.

What causes MS?

In multiple sclerosis, the body’s own immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS) and causes damage, which slows or stops nerve transmission.  Research is ongoing in areas of immunology, epidemiology, genetics and infections diseases. 

How many people are living in the USA and Globally with MS?

USA ~1 Million adults up to 913,925; Neurology 2019; Globally ~2.8million (Atlas of MS)

Why is early treatment important? 

•Early damage in the CNS can occur even before you are experiencing any symptoms.

•Best chance for reducing long-term disability is during the early relapsing phase of the disease, which is characterized by inflammation.

•Medications are currently available to decrease inflammation; early and ongoing treatment helps to minimize this inflammation and also reduces damage to nerve fibers (axons) and loss of brain tissue.

Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence can determine MS patient risk scores to recommend diagnostics and treatment?  Diagnosing MS is challenging when symptoms are non-specific and suggestive of several nervous system disorders.

•Symptoms:  fatigue, numbness and tingling, blurred vision, double vision, weakness, poor coordination, imbalance, pain, depression and problems with memory and concentration.  Less common tremor, paralysis and blindness.

•ML/AI Risk score:  ML/AI algorithm model on patient level data develops a risk score for a patient based on a group of symptom diagnoses, procedures, prescriptions and medical codes. 

•Patients:  Risk score for a patient is communicated to provider to alert the patient to consider diagnostic tests, specialist consul and treatment if needed.