Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have a spouse or live-in partner experience slower disease progression, including a reduction in lesion volume, according to a recent study. Researchers attribute this effect to their partners’ emotional support and increased physical activity, which may help mitigate age-related neurodegenerative processes.
In 2021, Dr. Alexandra Balshi and her team at the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School conducted a two-year study analyzing the lesion volume, total brain volume, and gray matter volume of 58 MS patients.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes recurrent inflammation in the central nervous system, affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues, and the disease is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s. Common symptoms include vision impairment, urinary and bowel dysfunction, paralysis, depression, and dizziness.
There is currently no cure for MS. Treatment primarily focuses on slowing disease progression and reducing relapse frequency through medications and injections.
The research team conducted MRI scans on 58 participants diagnosed with MS between 2021 and 2023. Of these, 36 were married, 22 were single, and 7 were divorced.
The researchers examined various factors that could influence brain lesion volume, including smoking history, hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 130 mmHg), multiple sclerosis onset date, treatment methods, marital satisfaction, and weekly alcohol consumption.
The study revealed that having a spouse slows the progression of multiple sclerosis, but this effect was observed only in female patients. Married individuals showed smaller total and periventricular lesion volumes than single individuals, indicating less brain damage.
The study examined factors that could influence brain lesion volume, including smoking history, hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 130 mmHg), MS onset date, treatment methods, marital satisfaction, and weekly alcohol consumption.
The results showed that having a spouse was associated with slower MS progression, but only among female patients. Married women exhibited smaller total lesion volumes and periventricular lesion volumes compared to single women, indicating less brain damage.
Married women also had approximately 40 ml more total brain volume than single women, suggesting less brain atrophy.
The researchers noted that marital status is an independent factor influencing disease progression beyond age or disease duration. They found that a spouse can improve a patient’s adherence to health management, encourage physical activity, and provide emotional support, which reduces stress and helps slow MS progression, ultimately mitigating age-related neurodegenerative processes.
The study emphasized that marriage is not the only form of social support. The researchers advised that individuals explore different ways of receiving care. Healthcare providers should be prepared to understand patients’ social support needs and offer comprehensive treatment.
The study also found a significantly higher incidence of hypertension among married participants, an unexpected result given the general health benefits associated with marriage. The researchers noted that further large-scale studies are needed to investigate this finding.
The results of this study were published in the Journal of Neurology.
