Could my depression be an early sign of MS at 26?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 26 and have been suffering from depression for one year now. It has come to my attention recently that some neurological disorders, like multiple sclerosis (MS), may actually start with some vague and general symptoms. Consequently, I have started thinking about the possibility that my depression is due to the presence of some undiagnosed neurological disorder.

Could my depression be an early or even unrecognized sign of multiple sclerosis when I am only 26 years old?
Are there other neurological symptoms or signs besides mood changes that I should pay attention to?
Would you advise getting an MRI or seeing a neurologist despite the absence of neurological or physical symptoms?

Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Multiple sclerosis is a relatively rare nervous system disorder. Without neurological symptoms, depression on its own is not usually seen as an early symptom of Multiple Sclerosis. Although some patients with various illnesses or nervous system disorders can develop depression as a secondary illness, depression alone is not a sign of a primary nervous system disorder.

MRI tests are not recommended when depression alone is present, and there are no other symptoms, such as neurological or other clinical signs that would require further investigations. Most psychological illnesses are associated with complicated processes occurring in the brain, and these processes are not visible through an MRI scan.

It is better to assume the possibility of more common causes of depression in most cases. There are many illnesses where depression can be a secondary symptom, but it does not make depression a sign of such diseases.

According to the information you provided, a neurological consultation or an MRI is not needed at this time, as there are no physical or neurological symptoms. Should you start experiencing any symptoms like continuous numbness, weakness, visual disturbance, balance problems, or other neurological issues, then another evaluation is needed.

It is up to you if you decide to seek out a neurologist; if it can give you peace of mind, then by all means.

I hope that this is helpful for you.

Best regards.