- Contagious: It cannot be spread from person to person like a cold or flu.
- A normal part of aging: It can affect people of all ages, although it’s typically diagnosed in adults.
- A mental illness: MS is a neurological condition affecting the central nervous system, not a psychiatric disorder.
- Caused by a specific food or diet: While diet may play a role in managing symptoms, it’s not the root cause of MS.
- Always predictable: Symptoms and progression can vary greatly from person to person.
- Curable: While treatments can help manage symptoms and slow progression, there’s currently no cure.
- Always disabling: While MS can lead to disability in some cases, many people with MS live active and fulfilling lives.
- Fatal: Most people with MS have a normal life expectancy, although complications can arise.
- Always visible: Symptoms may not always be externally visible, as many are internal or affect cognitive function.
- A sign of weakness: MS is a medical condition, not a reflection of a person’s strength or character.
