ECTRIMS 2023 | The future of MS disability assessment: beyond the EDSS score

Dejan Jakimovski, MD, PhD, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY, addresses the impending arrival of medications that might prevent neurodegeneration, offering potential neuroprotective and reparative effects for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). As these treatments approach reality within the next 5 to 20 years, there’s a growing need for more refined assessment scores. Current evaluation metrics, such as the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), may not detect nuanced improvements or stabilizations achieved by these future drugs. By adopting more comprehensive and robust scoring systems, like the Scripps Neurological Rating Scale (SNRS) and Combinatorial Weight-Adjusted Disability Score (CombiWISE), clinicians can better gauge the efficacy of new treatments. Such intricate systems can highlight even subtle changes in a patient’s condition post-treatment, ensuring a more accurate representation of medication impact. This interview took place at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress 2023 in Milan, Italy.

These works are owned by Magdalen Medical Publishing (MMP) and are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All rights are reserved.