Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities toward achieving equitable multiple sclerosis care

Albert Aboseif; Justin R Abbatemarco; Marisa P McGinley; Julia O'Mahony; Devon S Conway; Orhun H Kantarci; Daniel Ontaneda; Lilyana Amezcua; Carrie M Hersh

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2025.106579

Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities toward achieving equitable multiple sclerosis care

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2025 Jun 10:101:106579. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2025.106579. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Albert Aboseif¹, Justin R Abbatemarco², Marisa P McGinley², Julia O'Mahony², Devon S Conway², Orhun H Kantarci¹, Daniel Ontaneda², Lilyana Amezcua³, Carrie M Hersh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Multiple Sclerosis & Autoimmune Neurology, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; Center for Multiple Sclerosis & Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
² Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
³ Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care and Research Center, Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Electronic address: hershc@ccf.org.

PMID: 40554211
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2025.106579

Abstract

Despite significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), disparities in access to care and clinical outcomes persist. This review explores the contemporary issues driving health disparities among pwMS including the role of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disadvantage, the need for inclusivity in MS clinical trials, and the critical importance of social determinants of health (SDOH). Opportunities and actionable solutions are proposed, including the role of community partnership in education and research engagement, and the utility of telehealth to overcome geographic barriers.

Keywords: Health disparity; Inequity; Multiple sclerosis; Social determinants of health; Socioeconomic disadvantage.

Publication types

Review