Latest study on Multiple Sclerosis finds that the disease affects women more than men. The ratio of women to that of men suffering from this disease was found to be 2:1 in the year 1940 in the United States, and in the year 2000 it was 4:1. According to reports in Asian News International, there is “an increase in the ratio of women to men of nearly 50 percent per decade.” The intensity, frequency and duration of pain are also more in women suffering from this disease than in men.

Multiple sclerosis, that affects the central nervous system, is accompanied by symptoms like vision problems, pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance and muscle weakness. It is considered to be an attack of the immune system on the nervous system. This disease is generally diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40.

The reasons behind this large difference in the rates of men and women are not known. Social and psychological factors are considered to be an important factor in this increase. Some of the factors that are found to be likely are: early menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, obesity, smoking and the later age of first births. Researchers are also of the opinion that the changes are more pronounced in people diagnosed at earlier ages.