{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:42:43Z","timestamp":1760060563384,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756857600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Backgorund. Multiple sclerosis (MS) profoundly affects the lives of patients and their families. The experience of the disease is shaped not only by its progression and specific characteristics but also by the quality of medical and caregiving support received. The diagnosis of MS represents a transformative event that may lead to job loss, the need for continuous care, and a significant reorganization of family roles. In Italy, more than 140,000 people are affected by MS (AISM data, 2024). The impact of the disease is multifaceted and complex, involving various aspects of the patient\u2019s life. Dependence on external assistance often becomes an unavoidable necessity, highlighting the importance of exploring the quality of life of people with MS in the Italian context. The main objective is to assess the quality of life of individuals affected by MS, both before diagnosis and during the course of the disease. A secondary aim is to identify related psycho-physical consequences, including care-related needs. Methods: An online survey was conducted through various associations operating across Italy, involving a sample of 99 individuals diagnosed with MS. Results: The results show a predominance of female participants, with a mean age of 41 years. The disease was reported to be at an early stage in 66.7% of cases and advanced in 33.3%, with none of the respondents being in a terminal phase. The most frequent clinical form was relapsing\u2013remitting MS (RRMS), which accounted for 78.8% of the cases. In terms of employment and daily activities, more than half of the participants reported underperforming (59.6%) or limiting specific tasks (51.5%) due to disability caused by the disease. Emotional distress had even more pronounced effects, with 63.6% reporting a decline in performance and 62.6% experiencing concentration difficulties. Quality of life was significantly affected, particularly in the physical and emotional domains. Vitality, physical pain, perceived health, and psychological well-being emerged as compromised dimensions, pointing to the need for a multidimensional care model that integrates therapeutic, rehabilitative, and psychosocial interventions. Individuals in the early stages of MS tended to maintain better work relationships and demonstrated higher levels of professional engagement. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of a continuous and personalized care approach, addressing not only clinical treatment but also psychological and social support. These aspects are crucial for monitoring patients\u2019 needs, promoting quality of life, facilitating disease acceptance, and mitigating psychological distress.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci15090960","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,4]],"date-time":"2025-09-04T09:18:57Z","timestamp":1756977537000},"page":"960","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9738-3479","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elsa","family":"Vitale","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Directorate of Health Professions and Nursing, Local Health Authority (ASL) of Bari, 70123 Bari, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Roberto","family":"Lupo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery, \u2018San Giuseppe da Copertino\u2019 Hospital, Local Health Authority (ASL) of Lecce, 73043 Copertino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ludovica","family":"Panzanaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Comunit\u00e0 Riabilitativa Assistenziale Psichiatrica \u201cCARRUBO\u201d, Sol Levante Srl, 74020 Avetrana, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Visconti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria Rosaria","family":"Tumolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paolo","family":"Caldararo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gruppo Villa Maria, Citt\u00e0 di Lecce Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-3013-7419","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federico","family":"Cucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gruppo Villa Maria, Citt\u00e0 di Lecce Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6522-1259","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donato","family":"Cascio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physics and Chemistry \u201cE. Segr\u00e8,\u201d University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1998-0286","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giorgio","family":"De Nunzio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Biomedical Physics and Environment, Department of Mathematics and Physics \u201cE. De Giorgi,\u201d University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"Advanced Data Analysis in Medicine (ADAM), Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research Applied to Medicine (DReAM), Local Health Authority (ASL) of Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0678-0242","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefano","family":"Botti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hematology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6067-9578","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivan","family":"Rubbi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Bologna, 48018 Faenza, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8741-3478","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luana","family":"Conte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physics and Chemistry \u201cE. Segr\u00e8,\u201d University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy"},{"name":"Advanced Data Analysis in Medicine (ADAM), Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research Applied to Medicine (DReAM), Local Health Authority (ASL) of Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1111\/ene.13819","article-title":"Multiple sclerosis\u2014A review","volume":"26","author":"Dobson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. J. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1380","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2020.05.049","article-title":"Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review","volume":"133","author":"Hauser","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. 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