Sarcopenia in patients with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Immunology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, is increasingly recognized for its impact on health outcomes.
• The relationship between sarcopenia and MS remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with multiple sclerosis.
• To identify factors associated with sarcopenia in the MS population.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of 101 ambulatory MS patients and 55 healthy controls.
• Assessment of handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed, anterior thigh muscle thickness (anterior TMT), and skeletal muscle mass index (SSMI) using ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
• Comparison of clinical data, fatigue (MFIS), and leisure-time exercise (GLTEQ) between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic MS patients.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited significantly lower HGS, gait speed, muscle mass, and thickness compared to controls.
• Sarcopenia, particularly regional, was diagnosed in approximately one-fifth of MS patients.
• Sarcopenic MS patients reported higher Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores and lower Godin leisure-time exercise questionnaire (GLTEQ) scores.

Conclusions:

• Regional sarcopenia is more prevalent than whole-body sarcopenia in MS patients.
• Sarcopenia is associated with increased fatigue and reduced physical activity in individuals with MS.
• These findings highlight the importance of assessing and managing sarcopenia in MS care.