Assessment and Management of the Elderly Patient with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and often disabling disease that is most often diagnosed in young adults. However, due to better diagnostics and improved medical care, patients with MS have a normal life expectancy. This increase in longevity makes for a change in the demographics of the disease, and clinicians must be prepared to meet the special medical and psychosocial needs of the older MS population. Older patients present with increased medical complexity and require a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Understanding the challenges faced by aging MS patients can help the health care professional minimize morbidity and disability associated with this disease.