Multiple Sclerosis: Factors Increasing Mortality Risk

March 24, 2026 Dr. Michael Lee – Health Editor Health

A recent study conducted by researchers at Imperial College London has identified three factors – smoking, obesity, and social deprivation – that increase the risk of death for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) by 40 percent, according to a report published Tuesday by Al-Khalij newspaper.

The findings come as the United Arab Emirates has taken steps to improve MS care, and support. Earlier this month, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the UAE launched the nation’s first clinical practice guidelines for treating the disease, developed by a specialized scientific team and based on a review of global best practices. The guidelines aim to provide optimal medical support for those living with MS in the country, taking into account the specific characteristics of the UAE’s MS community and variations in healthcare access.

The latest guidelines address treatment options during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in cases of MS in children, potentially expanding treatment access for a wider range of patients. Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Deputy Head of the Board of Trustees of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, stated the guidelines are based on the best available evidence globally and represent the first of their kind in the UAE for MS treatment.

Simultaneously, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society also inaugurated a dedicated support hotline for individuals with MS, aiming to enhance support services by facilitating access to resources. These initiatives follow the discovery, announced in December 2025 by scientists at University College London, of two new biological subtypes of MS using artificial intelligence techniques. The research, which analyzed MRI images and blood protein levels from 600 patients, identified an “early active” form characterized by a rapid increase in protein levels and immediate damage to the corpus callosum, and a “late active” form beginning with shrinkage in the limbic cortex.

The identification of these subtypes, described by experts as “exciting,” marks a departure from decades of symptom-based treatments and paves the way for more personalized medicine approaches to MS. The clinical guidelines released this month seek to implement these advances in treatment within the UAE healthcare system.