Visit The Black MS Foundation website to read about the experiences of black people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Facts:

• New research is challenging the assumption that MS is predominantly a white female disease. All racial and ethnic groups are impacted by MS.
• The disease often presents itself differently in black people.
• Black people (African ancestry) can experience more severe or localized forms of the disease, often the disability scores reported by black people are higher than those by white people (those with self-identified Northern European ancestry).
• Black people are also more likely to have frequent relapses and faster progression of the disease.
• Black MS patients lose gray and white brain matter at twice the rate compared to white patients.
• Opticospinal MS phenotype is more common in black people than white. In opticospinal MS, the disease specifically affects the optic nerves and spinal cord, which can trigger vision and mobility problems, respectively.

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