Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms include fatigue, vision problems, numbness, weakness and unsteady gait. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS globally. The causes of MS are still not well understood. Many people with MS recall subtle symptoms before the start of typical MS symptoms. These earliest signs of MS are called prodromal symptoms. Much of the research on prodromal symptoms has focused on people who developed MS in adulthood. Recently, researchers have found that adults with MS were more likely to seek health care (i.e. visit a physician, have a hospitalization and fill out prescriptions) for certain conditions (e.g. fatigue and pain) in the 5 years before their first typical MS symptom. However, there are many questions that are still unanswered. During my PhD I will determine (i) what the most common groups of prodromal symptoms among adults with MS are and (ii) whether men and women with MS experience different prodromal symptoms. Five to ten percent of people with MS develop the condition in childhood. Less is known about prodromal symptoms among children with MS. During my PhD I will determine (i) whether children with MS are more likely to seek healthcare for certain conditions in the years before their first typical MS symptom and (ii) whether children with MS are more likely to have lower education scores before their first typical MS symptom. These findings will be important as they may help doctors diagnose MS earlier, allowing people with MS to start MS therapies more promptly. Moreover, once researchers have a better understanding of how far back in time people with MS can experience symptoms, they will be able to investigate the causes of MS better. Lastly, in the future, new therapies will likely be developed that protect the brain and spinal cord. People with prodromal symptoms can then be identified and prescribed these protective therapies.