Functional evaluation of the geriatric patient with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common progressive neurologic disease of young Americans. Most patients develop their symptoms between ages 20 and 50 years. With contemporary medical management, MS patients live an almost normal life span and can spend their geriatric years combatting their MS along with the symptoms associated with the normal aging process. Instruments such as The Medical Record of Disability have been developed to assess the functional state of the younger patient but do not address the additional problems commonly found in the geriatric population. This article explores some of these areas within the functional systems to alert responsible health care providers to the care for this expanding population of elderly MS patients.