According to a new study, multiple sclerosis can have a substantial effect on many aspects of life beyond physical health, with 51 percent of people reporting that the disease affects their social life and 48 percent reporting that it affects their work. The study also found MS can place strain on relationships.

Although the physical effects of MS are well recognized, less is known about how the disease affects broader social determinants of health. Previous studies have often focused on individual areas, such as employment or financial wellbeing, in isolation. However, little research has explored how multiple social determinants are affected simultaneously and how they interact.

To explore these wider effects, researchers from Italy conducted the SocialMS study, a nationwide questionnaire-based study involving 1,039 adults with MS receiving care at 68 MS centers across the country. Participants were asked about the effect of MS on four key social determinants of health: education, work, financial resources, and social life.

Social life emerged as the most commonly affected domain, with 51 percent of participants reporting an effect, followed by work (48 percent), financial resources (34 percent) and education (19 percent).

The study also found that the four domains were closely interconnected. Additional analyses conducted by the researchers identified the strongest associations between work and social life and between work and financial resources.

People experiencing financial difficulties, being out of work or retired early, additional health conditions or greater levels of disability were more likely to report effect across multiple domains. Economic strain and disability were associated with all secondary outcomes examined in the study.

Almost 90 percent of participants reported receiving some form of social support. Family members were the major source of both practical and emotional support, with 61 percent receiving practical support from family and 76 percent receiving emotional support. Friends were also an important source of emotional support, cited by 43 percent of participants.

Support also came from less traditional sources. More than 16 percent of participants reported receiving emotional support and companionship from pets, while almost 12 percent reported receiving emotional support from colleagues.

Despite the importance of these support networks, the study also found MS can place strain on relationships. Among participants whose social life was affected by the disease, 54 percent reported effects on relationships with partners and 46 percent reported effects on friendships.

Participants reporting a greater MS-related burden – and therefore greater need – were also more likely to receive support.

The findings were presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2026.