When you’re newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), you may get a lot of attention from your healthcare team, as well as education and advocacy efforts. But the truth is, you probably have many years left of living with MS — and on top of that, you’ll still face the same challenges other people do as they get older.
The average life span of people with MS — roughly 75 years old — is about 7 years less than in the general population, largely due to related medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke. These complications can be preventable or manageable, though, and treatment breakthroughs are improving life expectancy all the time, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).
But as the adage goes, growing old isn’t for the faint of heart. Here are some challenges you may face as you get older, along with ways to take care of your MS and overall health for the best quality of life.
