CARE in MS: Childhood Adversity Research Effort in MS
This study is structured around three main aims. In Aim 1, investigators will conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR) to develop culturally tailored methods to assess childhood adversity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim 2 will investigate the impact of childhood adversity on MS outcomes among individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), among whom 70% belong to a group historically under-represented in MS research: Black, Hispanic, or poverty-impacted. Aim 2 procedures involve two visits that include a research blood draw and an MRI scan. In Aim 3, investigators will conduct interviews and surveys to explore environmental and social factors affecting quality of life for minority MS patients.
⁃ Aim 1 -
• aged ≥18-29 years
• diagnosis of RRMS (Fulfill international criteria for relapsing remitting (RRMS))
• 70% self-identifying as a Black, Hispanic, or poverty-impacted (up to 138% of the federal poverty level) individual,and
• fluent in English or Spanish.
⁃ Aim 2 -
• aged ≥18-29 years
• diagnosis of RRMS (Fulfill international criteria for relapsing remitting (RRMS))
• 70% self-identifying as a Black, Hispanic, or poverty impacted, and
• fluent reading in English or Spanish
• Pediatric onset MS (MS onset before age 18 and age at time of enrollment is 18-25) OR adult-onset MS (MS onset at age 18 or older and age at time of enrollment is 19-29)
• Disease duration below 8 years
⁃ Aim 3 -
⁃ Aim 3 will enroll the first 20 participants from Aim 2 who meet the following criteria:
• completed at least 80% of study data in the cross-sectional study/Aim 2.
• a total of 70% must self-identify as Black, Hispanic, or meet criteria for poverty impacted.
• interviews will be evenly split between participants with high (top quartile) and low (bottom quartile) of PROMIS-10 scores.