In the European Union over 400 000 people have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

MS affects people in the prime of life when families and careers are developing.

It is the most common cause of disability affecting young adults.  People are usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

MS is more common in women than men, with a ratio of  3:2.

MS is the result of damage to the brain and spinal cord.  This interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

The most common form of MS is one where symptoms come and go.  For some people MS means gradually increasing disability.

Common MS symptoms include: blurred vision, extreme fatigue, pain, numbness in legs and hands, loss of movement and speech problems.

Following diagnosis, many people with MS lose contact with health and social services for years

Increasing disability , compounded by lack of expertise in MS among professionals can mean that basic health problems such as depression, cognitive impairments, continence issues and sexual health all go unnoticed.

Palliative care skills are not always available to people whose MS is advanced and have complex physical and psychological needs.

Despite all research efforts, MS is not curable so far. Therefore, much more research on the causes and potential cure of MS is vital.

People with MS typically are keen to remain in employment for as long as possible, but have a progressive, degenerative, or fluctuating condition which means that they need to reduce/ adapt their hours and/ or adapt their working environment to accommodate changing needs.

It is vital, particularly if they are faced with increasing disability, that they can access co-ordinated care from all the professionals within a multi-disciplinary team, skilled and expert in MS

There are very significant countrywide and region wide discrepancies in the provision and quality of services and support for people affected by MS across the European Union.

There is growing recognition that people affected by MS have a great deal to offer through their own experience and knowledge of their disease, to professionals working with them