Current opinion: Racial and ethnic health disparities in multiple sclerosis: considering the social determinants of health.

Purpose Of Review: We discuss racial and ethnic disparities in multiple sclerosis (MS), outcomes, and social determinants of health (SDoH). We also provide essential considerations needed to bridge the gap in inequalities, including broader representation of racial and ethnic people in clinical trials and research in general and the inclusion of better measures of living conditions.

Recent Findings: The incidence and prevalence of MS have become more diverse in the USA.

Inclusion of optic neuritis in dissemination in space improves the performance of McDonald 2017 criteria in Hispanic people with suspected multiple sclerosis.

Background: Hispanic people compared to White people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are two times more likely to present with optic neuritis (ON). ON in dissemination in space (DIS) after a single attack is not part of the current McDonald 2017 criteria.

Objective: To evaluate if adding ON in DIS (ON-modified criteria) improves the performance of the McDonald 2017 criteria in the diagnosis of MS after a single attack of ON.

Multiple sclerosis in Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: A systematic review of incidence, prevalence, and outcomes.

Introduction: The incidence, prevalence and outcomes of multiple sclerosis (MS) are unclear in Indigenous Peoples (IP) who are more likely to be underrepresented in research. We completed a systematic review of MS in IP of the Americas.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases as well as references of retrieved papers.

Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Characterizes Multiple Sclerosis Rather Than Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share clinical presentations including optic neuritis and brainstem syndromes. Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) is characterized by slowed ipsilateral adduction saccades and results from a lesion in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Although INO is a common clinical finding in MS, its prevalence in NMOSD is unknown.

Hypertension and hypertension severity in Hispanics/Latinx with MS.

Background: Vascular comorbidities (VCs) including hypertension (HTN) are associated with worse multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes. HTN is common in Latinx, but the prevalence and relationship with disability are unknown in Latinx with MS.

Methods: Latinx ( = 451) from the Alliance for Research in Hispanic MS (ARHMS) seen between 2007 and 2019 were included.

Effectiveness of film as a health communication tool to improve perceptions and attitudes in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Health communication tools like film are capable of reducing health disparities and could be effective in addressing negative illness perceptions of MS in Hispanics/Latinx.

Objective: To test the feasibility of using a culturally appropriate short narrative film to examine illness perceptions overtime and attitudes in Hispanics/Latinx affected with MS.

Methods: Participants were assigned to view a short narrative film (n = 130) or not (n = 106).