Europe's Multiple Sclerosis Measurement Gap

A briefing by the European Parliament's Committee on Public Health highlights the need for a coordinated European plan to address the neurological disease burden. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people in Europe, primarily during prime working years. Current measurement tools, such as the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), do not fully capture the experiences of people with MS, including fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and smouldering neuroinflammation. The Smouldering Associated Worsening (SAW) Index is being developed to provide a more comprehensive measurement framework. The cost of the measurement gap is substantial, with lifetime productivity loss ranging from €394,000 in France to €668,000 in Germany. Early identification of progression could change the trajectory of the disease, extending years of employment and reducing long-term dependence on disability and social benefits.