AAN 2021 | Natalizumab improves mental and social health in a real-world MS cohort

Carrie M. Hersh, DO, MSc, FAAN, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, shares the findings of a real-world investigation into the impact of natalizumab on quality of life (QoL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) questionnaire was used to assess changes in patient-reported QoL after initiation of natalizumab. The results from 164 patients demonstrated significant improvements from baseline in 8 out of 12 domains, with improvements more pronounced in patients with impairments at baseline. Additionally, QoL changes in natalizumab-treated patients were compared to patients receiving ocrelizumab. It was demonstrated that annualized improvement rates were higher with natalizumab than with ocrelizumab, suggesting expectation bias was not driving the high improvement rates seen in the natalizumab group. This interview took place during the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting.