Epidemiology of Multiple sclerosis and related disorders

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of non-traumatic neurologic disability in young adults worldwide. Marked variation in incidence and prevalence across geographic regions, ancestry groups, and sexes supports a multifactorial etiology in which genetic susceptibility interacts with environmental exposures. Recent syntheses suggest MS incidence and prevalence have increased over time, often driven by higher rates among women, yet these trends are not uniformly observed and are incompletely characterized in several regions, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where newer data suggest a rapidly rising burden.This Neurology-focused Research Topic will publish clinically relevant, methodologically rigorous epidemiology that clarifies where MS burden is changing, in whom, and why. We particularly welcome work that improves cross-study comparability by addressing diagnostic criteria evolution, study duration, and standardization, and that disentangles true risk changes from shifts in ascertainment and survival (e.g., earlier diagnosis, MRI availability, access to MS specialty care, and the downstream effects of disease-modifying therapies on longevity and disease course). Submissions should prioritize clear implications for clinicians, health systems, and future research.Welcomed content includes:- Population-based incidence and prevalence studies with clear case definitions and transparent ascertainment (registry, claims/EHR, community-based)- Analyses stratified by sex, age, race/ethnicity/ancestry, and geography (including urban–rural gradients) with appropriate standardization- Time-trend and birth-cohort studies, including work on changing female-to-male ratios- High-quality systematic reviews/meta-analyses that explicitly handle heterogeneity (diagnostic era, ascertainment source, study quality) and report standardized estimates where feasible- Methodology papers on diagnostic drift, ascertainment bias, denominator selection, and harmonization across regions/health systems- Studies parsing drivers of rising prevalence (true incidence vs earlier detection vs improved survival/longer disease duration)- Health services and access research relevant to MS epidemiology (specialty centers, MRI access, diagnostic delay, treatment uptake, disparities)- Epidemiologic studies of plausible determinants with clinical interpretability (e.g., infection-related exposures, migration, vitamin D/sun exposure proxies, immune factors), including gene–environment interaction work- Regional data reports addressing major evidence gaps—especially from MENA and other underrepresented settings—where methods support generalizability and comparison Topic editors: Mahsa Ghajarzadeh Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78919/epidemiology-of-multiple-sclerosis-and-related-disorders