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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
Published on: September 23, 2025
Frailty in ageing persons with multiple sclerosis
Xavier Ayrignac1, Catherine Larochelle2, Mark Keezer3
1Clinique de Sclérose en plaques du Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada/Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada/Département de Neurologie, CRC sclérose en plaques, CHU Montpellier, INSERM, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Background:
Recent progress in multiple sclerosis (MS) management has contributed to a greater life expectancy in persons with MS. Ageing with MS comes with unique challenges and bears the potential to greatly affect quality of life and socioeconomic burden.
Objectives:
To compare frailty in ageing persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and controls; to correlate frailty with MS clinical characteristics.
Methods:
PwMS and controls over 50 years old were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Two validated frailty measures were assessed: the frailty index and the Fried's phenotype. Several multiple linear regressions accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics were performed.
Results:
Eighty pwMS (57 females, mean age 58.5 ± 6 years old) and 37 controls (24 females, mean age 61 ± 6.5 years old) were recruited. Multivariable analysis identified significantly higher frailty index in pwMS (0.21 ± 0.12 vs 0.11 ± 0.08, p < 0.0001). Similarly, according to Fried's phenotype, a significantly higher percentage of pwMS were frail compared to controls (28% vs 8%). In pwMS, frailty index was independently associated with expanded disability status scale (EDSS), comorbidities, education level and disease duration.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that frailty can be routinely assessed in pwMS. Increased frailty in MS patients suggests that, along with MS therapeutics, a tailored multidisciplinary approach of ageing pwMS is needed.
Insights
Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) show significantly higher frailty compared to controls. This highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to manage aging in persons with MS (pwMS).
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Advances in multiple sclerosis (MS) management have increased life expectancy for persons with MS (pwMS).
- Aging with MS presents unique challenges impacting quality of life and socioeconomic factors.
- Understanding the specific health trajectories of aging pwMS is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare frailty levels in aging persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and age-matched controls.
- To investigate the correlation between frailty and clinical characteristics in pwMS.
- To assess the prevalence of frailty using validated measures in an aging MS population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed, recruiting pwMS and controls aged over 50.
- Two validated frailty measures, the frailty index and Fried's phenotype, were utilized.
- Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed, controlling for demographic and clinical variables.
Main Results:
- Eighty pwMS and 37 controls were analyzed. PwMS exhibited a significantly higher frailty index (0.21 vs 0.11, p < 0.0001) and a greater percentage of frail individuals (28% vs 8%).
- In pwMS, the frailty index was independently associated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), number of comorbidities, education level, and disease duration.
- These findings indicate a clear link between MS progression, overall health status, and frailty in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Frailty assessment should be considered a routine component of care for persons with MS (pwMS).
- The increased frailty observed in aging pwMS underscores the necessity of a tailored, multidisciplinary approach beyond standard MS therapeutics.
- This approach should address the complex needs of aging pwMS to improve their quality of life and reduce socioeconomic burden.
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