A June 2024 literature review, published in the , by Sisodya and colleagues has revealed that climate change has the potential to intensify multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, as well as the incidence, prevalence, and severity of other major neurological disorders. In recent decades, making inferences about the effects of climate change on neurological and psychiatric disorders has been difficult given an overall sparsity of data, and little consideration was given to the effect it might have on individual and population genetics, making this review stand out as the first of its kind. The collated evidence aligns with forecasts made by GlobalData analysts and epidemiologists, who anticipate an uptick in the prevalence and disease severity of MS.
This will drive significant growth in the MS market over the next decade as patients demand new treatments to manage their symptoms. MS is a progressive, chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system as the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The associated symptoms of MS include fatigue, numbness and tingling, muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness, mobility problems, pain, and cognitive issues, among others.
A 2022 study conducted by Viktova and colleagues, and published in the (AAN), suggests that there is an association between the increasing severity and susceptibility of MS and higher latitude temperature zones. Latitude lines ring the Earth and are parallel to the equator.
