The life expectancy of a multiple sclerosis patient is six (6) years less than non-MS patients a study by Boston University Medical Center reports. Their research data was mind from insurance claims and government death records from 1996-2009 and included 30,402 MS patients & 89,818 non-MS patients. The study is flawed to some extent in that it only included people with insurance but does give some insight into the mortality rates. New changes in medication may alter similar research results in the future.

More research on the subject is need in the United States and over a longer period of time. That said, the results are similar to those found in European studies. To learn more about this topic read, “Study finds decreased life expectancy for MS patients” at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140121104245.htm.