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Covid-19 may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025

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30 November 2024, 12:27

A study conducted at Örebro University and Örebro University Hospital, Sweden, has found that COVID-19 may be a risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Key findings:

Increased risk of MS after severe COVID-19:
Patients who have had severe COVID-19 have an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The risk was 26 cases per 100,000 patients, more than double the risk in people who have not had COVID-19, according to Scott Montgomery, professor of clinical epidemiology.
Disease rarity:
Despite the increased risk identified, MS remains a rare disease. Only 0.02% of patients with severe COVID-19 were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Long-term outlook:
Montgomery noted that the process of diagnosing MS can take 10 to 20 years after an impact to the brain or spinal cord. It is possible that the number of MS cases associated with COVID-19 will increase in the future.

The importance of early diagnosis:

Early treatment:
The earlier MS is diagnosed, the better the chances of slowing the progression of the disease and improving the quality of life of patients.
Advice for patients:
People experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention.

The importance of vaccination:

Montgomery stresses the importance of vaccination to prevent infections and reduce the severity of COVID-19, as more severe disease is associated with an increased risk of MS.

Prospects for other diseases:

Research is ongoing to explore the links between COVID-19 and other illnesses. Identifying which illnesses are more likely to develop after severe COVID-19 could help guide early treatment and monitoring of patients.

The study was published in the journal Brain Communications.