Limited Local Neurology and Imaging Access May Slow MS Diagnosis
A retrospective study of nearly 8,300 multiple sclerosis patients found that 55% had a diagnostic delay of at least six months and the median delay was three years. Greater distance from neurologists, MS specialists, and MRI facilities was associated with higher odds of delay. Researchers said this is the first evidence that geographic access disparities affect time to MS diagnosis.
The analysis reviewed adults seen at one academic MS center between 2015 and 2025. Most participants were female, white, and had relapsing-remitting disease when diagnosed; average symptom onset was 33.6 years and diagnosis 37.2. About one quarter had public insurance and 15% lived in rural areas.
Beyond distance, higher education, public insurance, progressive disease at presentation, and more comorbidities were linked to longer time to diagnosis, while older age at onset was linked to shorter delay. Sex, race, ethnicity, rurality, area deprivation, and diagnostic period were not associated.
The findings may matter most to people in areas with few neurologists or MRI centers, who could face longer uncertainty and delayed treatment. Because MS symptoms can worsen over time, slower diagnosis may affect planning, work, and care access. Health systems and clinicians could use these results to consider outreach, referral support, or imaging access, though the single-center design limits broad conclusions.