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20 AWellington-based neurologist and researcher, Dr Ruth Leadbetter, has led the first nationwide MSmortality study to be published from the southern hemisphere in the last 30 years. The results are encouraging. “Our studyshowedthat the lifeexpectancy ofNewZealanderswithmultiplesclerosis is approachingthatof thegeneral population,” saysRuth. “Wefounda7-yeardifference in the lifeexpectancy forpeoplewithMS in our study, comparedtotheaverageNew Zealander. However,mostof thepeople in our studyhadnotbeen treatedwithhighly effectivetreatments that arenowavailable, soweexpect lifeexpectancy forpeoplewith MSwill improveeven further in future.” The results echoed those of large studies from Europe and North America, which showed average life expectancy for people with MS was 6-9 years shorter than the general population. “We were pleased to find that the average life expectancy of our study group of New Zealanders with MS was comparable to those in other countries,” says Ruth. This study has provided important baseline information for researchers and clinicians. “Now that we’ve identified the difference in life expectancy between people with MS and the general population, we can look further into what complications or co-morbidities might be causing that survival gap, and target those,” says Ruth. “These results provide valuable information to help plan healthcare initiatives and resource allocation for Kiwis with MS.” Ruth thanks Dr Deborah Mason and Professor Bruce Taylor for supervising this research project, and the Neurology Trust for contributing funding for statistical support. “Our sincere thanks also to the participants of the NZMS Prevalence Study for contributing their clinical data,” she says. “I’mvery grateful to the Neurological Foundation for theVJ Chapman grantwhich funded this researchproject and my clinical fellowship inMSworking withProfessor BruceTaylor at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania.” Dr Ruth Leadbetter How do we compare? Crunching the numbers in multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that attacks the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The further from the equator people live, the more prevalent it is. Currently, it affects around 5,000 Kiwis.