“Stress during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood can affect the current and future health and well-being of people with multiple sclerosis. However, age approaches and accurate data on stress factors are scarce,” she says. Said researchers from Michigan (USA). So they decided to examine the links between stressful life events, disability, and changes in relapse burden.
Multiple sclerosis: stressful events responsible for poor health
As part of a study, they recruited 713 people who had to answer a questionnaire about the sources of their anxiety. Most of the respondents were women, with 79% suffering from multiple sclerosis and their average age was 49 years. According to the findings, stressful events that occur during childhood and adulthood, such as poverty, abuse, or divorce, are associated with worsening health and functional outcomes in patients with MS. And the results published in the journal stated that “stressors in adulthood only contributed significantly to increasing the burden of relapses after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.” Brain and behaviour.
Potential effect on immune, inflammatory, and behavioral processes
According to the authors, research focused on stress and multiple sclerosis that does not take into account patients’ full age could miss key information or overestimate the link between life stress and childhood and health effects. Adverse experiences in childhood and other stressors at this age may influence immune, inflammatory, and behavioral processes throughout life, and reduce resilience to stress in adulthood. Kari Bolick, lead author of the work, explained V statement.
“This knowledge is essential to inform multiple sclerosis research as well as clinical care. Referral to resources can help reduce the impact of stress and improve well-being.”Tiffany Braley said. Scientists will now study the mechanisms of sleep, smoking and mental health, through which stressful events can exacerbate MS symptoms, including Increased disability, pain and fatigue.
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