Depression, Constipation, Among Early Signs of Devastating Degenerative Disease: Study

A new study has identified five symptoms that could be early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating and hard to treat neurodegenerative disease.

In a study of more than 20,000 people with MS, and more than 50,000 people without the condition, a French research team identified common early symptoms reported by people who did eventually develop the condition. 

People who developed MS were 22% more likely to be depressed in the years leading up to diagnosis, 47% more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, 50% more likely to report constipation, 21% to have a bladder infection known as cystitis and 38% more likely to have a urinary tract infection.

Researchers, who published their findings Tuesday in the journal Neurology, made it clear that none of these symptoms individually signal a person will eventually develop MS. However, in some cases they could be considered the first signs a person will eventually develop the disease.

“We identified 5 health conditions associated with subsequent MS diagnosis, which may be considered not only prodromal but also early-stage symptoms,” they wrote.

There are many possible explanations for why a person may be constipated or depressed that do not mean they will eventually have a degenerative condition.However, this research highlights some early signs for doctors to watch out for, especially considering a patient's overall profile when diagnosing the condition.

The French team also found that Crohn's disease — inflammation of the digestive tract linked to constipation, sexual dysfunction and depression on its own — is also linked to MS. People who have Lupus, an autoimmune disease where the immune system begins to attack a person’s tissues and organs, are also more likely to develop MS.

Also an autoimmune disease, MS occurs when the immune system begins to attack the body’s nervous system. Specifically, the protective covering called myelin that plays a key role in the nervous system’s ability to communicate.

Because the condition can originate in multiple parts of the body, it can be difficult to diagnose.

A majority of MS cases are diagnosed well after the disease first causes symptoms. Some early, and potentially overlooked, symptoms could include numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, vision problems, and trouble balancing. However, these symptoms are also linked to other conditions..

The National MS Society estimates that nearly 1 million Americans have the condition. Symptoms will usually first manifest between a person’ 20s and 40s, though diagnosis may come years later.