Biological vs. Chronological Age: Clinical Implications in Multiple Sclerosis
A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 160
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Chronological age, determined by the time elapsed since the birth of an individual, is one of the main risk factors for the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and for their prognosis. The relationship between chronological age and the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been established through epidemiological studies. Advanced chronological age carries a higher risk for developing progressive disease phenotypes and a poor disability recovery from relapses. However, individuals of the same age show a significant heterogeneity in the disease course of MS despite sharing similar baseline prognostic factors. A hypothetical explanation for this disparity, in part, is the biological age of each individual. Biological age, conditioned by genetic, lifestyle, comorbidity, and environmental factors, defines the aging of tissues that contributes to the decline of organ function, the loss of functional reserve, and decrease in the regenerative capacity. The relevance of biological age in MS is just beginning to be understood, but it opens a window for a better understanding of the biological pathways underlying MS progression and an opportunity to evaluate the impact of a healthy lifestyle over the course of MS.
This Special Issue aims to publish original studies and reviews, including both clinical trials and observational studies, that focus on the potential effect of biological age on MS evolution and severity.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Patricia Mulero
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- multiple sclerosis
- aging
- biological age
- telomere length
- epigenetics
- epigenetic clock
- chronological age
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