Aging with multiple sclerosis: cognitive, emotional and neuropathological considerations

Abstract

SUMMARY  Although individuals aging with multiple sclerosis (MS) can experience a compounding of their symptoms, in some circumstances they become more adept at coping with aging-related changes. Fortunately, individuals aging with MS often adjust well to aging, particularly if they have sufficient social support. They also do not appear to show accelerated rates of cognitive decline, and rates of some neuropathological changes have been shown to normalize compared with those seen in normal aging. Results are mixed as to whether older MS patients have higher rates of depression.