EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, July 22, 2026

Black people die from MS at younger ages than white people

MS deaths related to high blood pressure increasing

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

Highlights:

• A new study has found that Black people with multiple sclerosis die from MS at a younger age than white people with MS.
• The highest mortality rate was at ages 65 to 74 for Black people and 75 to 84 for white people.
• Deaths that included high blood pressure as a factor increased over the study period.
• The authors say efforts to control blood pressure are needed, especially for high-risk groups.
• The study relied on death certificates for information, which may not always be complete. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Black people with multiple sclerosis (MS) die from MS at a younger age than white people, with a peak mortality rate at ages 65 to 74 for Black people and ages 75 to 84 for white people, according to a study published July 22, 2026, in, an official journal of the .

“The reasons behind these health disparities are unclear, but they could be related to differing disease progression, access to health care, lifestyle and other factors such as co-occurring conditions,” said study author Lilyana Amezcua, MD, of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a Fellow of the ��ɫ����.

For the study, researchers reviewed data on deaths in the overall U.S. population from 2012 to 2023 as well as deaths that listed MS as a cause of death.

The overall death rate for people with MS was 1.10 per 100,000 people, with a rate of 1.34 for female individuals and 0.82 for male individuals. When looking at race and ethnicity, the rates were highest for Black people, with rates of 1.56 for females and 0.97 for males. For white people, the rates were 1.54 for females and 0.92 for males. For Hispanic people, the rates were 0.38 for females and 0.26 for males. For other races and ethnicities, the rates were 0.18 for females and 0.11 for males.  

The researchers also found that deaths that included high blood pressure as a factor increased over 2019-2023 across white and Black people.

“These results highlight the urgent need to develop targeted interventions to better control high blood pressure, including earlier screening, improved access to primary care and approaches to reduce the effects of cardiovascular complications, especially among groups at elevated risk,” Amezcua said.

A limitation of the study was the use of death certificates, which may not always include MS as a cause of death.

The study was supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Bristol Myer Squibb Foundation.

Discover more about MS at , from the ��ɫ����. This resource also offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world’s leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life on , , and .

The ��ɫ���� is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at or find us on , , , and .