age and effectiveness of DMT use

[Mamabug]

NIH analysis finds,

"after age 53, the model suggests that there is no predicted
benefit to receiving immunomodulatory DMTs for the average MS patient."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...r-08-00577.pdf

Although I don't imagine that's accurate for everyone, it seems pretty correct for me. I suspect that my last flare was in 2014, at age 52. By 2015 and 2016, I was noticing considerable, consistent decline and I suspect that I had transitioned to SPMS and my Copaxone was no longer effective.

I began conversations with my MS Specialist about going off and finally quit Copaxone in July of this year, at the age of 58. I think she usually waits a little longer to take patients off DMTs but I had her blessing. MRIs in 2018 and 2020 helped her to make the decision; more follow up ones will likely be needed to confirm no additional new lesions in the future.

Diet and lifestyle changes in 2018 halted my decline and I'm fairly stable now. I wish that I would have made those changes years ago.

[pennstater]

Thanks for posting. I personally am awaiting the Rocky Mountain MS Center's study on age and DMTs.

I think it is also important that readers look at the bottom of page 10. They are not recommending that all patients stop at 54, but it needs to be reviewed on a personal basis with each clinician. If on a DMT and older, please don't stop taking without discussing with your neuro.

I personally am hoping the the Rocky Mountain Study says it is safe for me to stop!

[oceanpride]

Hello. That is quite a report. I myself am grateful for the first chance at a DMT at age 58 when Ocrevus was finally approved here in Canada for PPMS over three years ago.
However I’ll never know what my progression would have been like if I hadn’t have taken it. I felt like I was failing quicker before vs after. That could have been natural as well. If DMT’s were the answer then there wouldn’t be so many of them
There would be only one
Thanks

[caldred]

NIH analysis finds,

"after age 53, the model suggests that there is no predicted
benefit to receiving immunomodulatory DMTs for the average MS patient."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...r-08-00577.pdf