On World Brain Day 2025, we’re focusing on what it really means to support brain health for all ages — starting with the challenges older adults face in living well with multiple sclerosis (MS).  

We all expect certain changes to our bodies as we age — greying hair, slower steps, the occasional ache. But what happens when aging intersects with a lifelong neurological condition like MS? 

MS is a complex autoimmune disease that damages the protective coating around nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts communication between the brain and body, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty walking, and memory problems — all of which can have a profound effect on daily life. 

Thanks to decades of research, we now have treatments that can slow disease activity and improve quality of life. But as people with MS grow older, managing the condition becomes more complicated. Symptoms may worsen, treatments may be less effective, and yet, older adults are often excluded from clinical trials. This leaves a gap in our knowledge — and in clinical guidance — for a growing group of people who deserve tailored care. 

One potential piece of the puzzle is “inflammaging” — the slow, persistent inflammation that builds up in our immune system as we age. Scientists suspect that this age-related inflammation might accelerate MS progression in older adults, but we don’t yet understand why—or how to tackle it. 

To explore this, a FutureNeuro-supported study is underway, led by our clinical researcher, Dr Hugh Kearney, at the MS Unit in St James’s Hospital, in collaboration with Professor Nollaig Bourke at the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute. The team is analysing blood samples and immune responses to investigate how inflammaging differs in people with MS, and how it relates to a range of factors — including body mass index, smoking, medication use, frailty, and social support. 

By combining cutting-edge lab techniques with rich clinical data, the researchers aim to build a clearer picture of how aging reshapes the immune system in MS — and how that, in turn, impacts real-world outcomes for patients. 

Their goal is clear: to build a stronger evidence base for treating older adults with MS, so that doctors and nurses can make better-informed decisions — and people living with MS can access the care that’s right for them, no matter their age. 

This World Brain Day, we’re proud to spotlight this important research — and to stand behind the message that brain health matters at every age.