Multiple sclerosis is caused by inflammation of the white matter of the central nervous system. This inflammation damages the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, and can cause many different symptoms, depending on which exact nerves are damaged. Some of the worse symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as paralysis and loss of speech, are obviously recognized. Multiple sclerosis, however, often causes more subtle symptoms that may be hidden from doctors or patients.
Fatigue
Multiple sclerosis may cause vague, general feelings of fatigue. The symptom of fatigue can be hard to explain to friends and family members, and doctors have a difficult time quantifying and measuring fatigue, explains the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. These hidden effects of fatigue can negatively impact work, social life and general quality of life.
Cognitive Effects
Roughly 50 percent of all patients with multiple sclerosis will develop cognitive problems, according to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke. These problems may affect judgment, concentration, memory and attention. Frequently these symptoms develop slowly, and the patient may not even notice the problems. Many times, a friend or family member notices the decrease in mental function. In other cases, the mental deficits may only be detected through extremely sensitive tests of cognitive function, the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains. Doctors still do not fully understand the effects of multiple sclerosis on mental functioning, and there does not appear to be a clear correlation between the length of time a patient has multiple sclerosis and the severity of the decline of cognitive ability.
Depression
Depression is another hidden symptom that often develops in patients with multiple sclerosis. The emotional effect of being diagnosed with an incurable, progressive disease, which unpredictability worsens and improves, often has negative effects on the mental well-being of patients. Clinical depression, the most severe type of depression, is more common among multiple sclerosis patients than the general public, reports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Similar to fatigue, depression is another condition that can be difficult to describe to others. In some cases, patients may feel ashamed of being depressed and try to hide the condition from those around them.
