Types of Multiple Sclerosis
A short read version, an infographic and translations are at the bottom of this post.
So I'm going to explain the 3 main types of MS. These may not be the only categories (e.g. benign MS), plus there are subcategories (e.g. Highly Active RRMS) and there may be other ones that people debate over. But these are the main 3.
The first is Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). This type of MS accounts for around 85-90% of all people with MS. Gender wise, the ratio between females to males is 3:1, and age of onset is generally between 20-40. Relapsing remitting MS is where a person will get a symptom or symptoms for a period of time (can be anything from 24 hours to months or more), and then this/these will either partially or completely go away again. The symptoms usually start up pretty quickly over a day or so. As previously explained in other posts, everyone's symptoms will be completely different depending on where in the CNS is being affected.
The second type of MS is Secondary Progressive MS. This is when MS symptoms steadily get worse and don't just come and and go in the way that relapses do. It follows on from the RRMS phase. Not everyone who has RRMS will go on to have SPMS, but most will. Statistically, 25% will have SPMS after 10 year, 50% after 20 years, and 75% after 30 years.
The final type of MS is Primary Progressive MS (PPMS). In this form, the person's MS gradually goes downhill from the point of diagnosis. There is no relapsing remitting phase. It accounts for around 10-15% of all MS diagnosed. The ratio of males to females here is 1:1 and the average age of onset is between 37-43.
Easy read
- The 3 main types of MS are relapsing remitting MS (RRMS); secondary progressive MS (SPMS); and primary progressive MS (PPMS).
- RRMS accounts for 85-90% of MS suffers and has a 3:1 female to male ratio. Sufferers will have symptoms which will come and go (either partially or completely). Age of onset is usually between 20-40.
- SPMS is a follow on phase from RRMS. Most RRMS suffers go on to get this (25% at 10 year, 50% at 20 years and 75% at 30 years). It is a gradual continuous steady decline in symptoms.
- PPMS starts as continuous decline (no relapses) in symptoms. The ratio of males to females is 1:1 and the average age of onset is around 37-43. It accounts for around 10-15% of MS suffers.
MS de zui zhu yao de san zhong lei xing shi: fu fa huan jie xing MS (RRMS); ji ci jin xing xing MS (SPMS); he yuan fa jin xing xing MS (PPMS)。
RRMS zhan MS huan zhe de 85–90%, nv xing yu nan xing de bi li yue wei 3:1. Huan zhe de zheng zhuang hui fan fu chu xian he xiao shi (ke neng bu fen huo wan quan xiao shi). Tong chang zai 20–40 sui zhi jian kai shi chu xian zheng zhuang。
SPMS shi RRMS zhi hou ke neng chu xian de jie duan. Da duo shu RRMS huan zhe zui zhong hui fa zhan wei SPMS (10 nian yue 25%, 20 nian yue 50%, 30 nian yue 75%). Zheng zhuang hui zhu jian er chi xu, wen ding di e hua。
PPMS cong yi kai shi jiu biao xian wei zheng zhuang chi xu e hua (mei you fu fa). Nan xing yu nv xing de bi li yue wei 1:1, ping jun kai shi nian ling yue wei 37–43 sui。Ta yue zhan MS huan zhe de 10–15%。
MS ke teen mukhya prakaar hain: Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS); Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS); aur Primary Progressive MS (PPMS).
RRMS, MS se peedit logon mein lagbhag 85–90% maamlon mein hota hai aur mahilaon aur purushon ka anupaat 3:1 hai. Ismein lakshan aate-jaate rehte hain, jo aanshik ya poori tarah se theek ho sakte hain. Lakshan aam taur par 20–40 varsh ki umr ke beech shuru hote hain.
SPMS, RRMS ke baad aane wala charan hai. RRMS se peedit adhikansh log aage chalkar SPMS viksit karte hain (10 varsh mein 25%, 20 varsh mein 50% aur 30 varsh mein 75%). Lakshanon mein dheere-dheere aur lagataar giravat hoti hai.
PPMS mein shuru se hi lakshanon mein lagataar giravat hoti hai, bina relapses ke. Purushon aur mahilaon ka anupaat 1:1 hai aur lakshan shuru hone ki ausat umr lagbhag 37–43 varsh hai. Yeh MS ke lagbhag 10–15% maamlon ke liye zimmedar hai.
Los 3 tipos principales de EM son la EM remitente-recurrente (EMRR); la EM secundaria progresiva (EMSP); y la EM primaria progresiva (EMPP).
La EMRR representa aproximadamente el 85–90% de las personas con EM y tiene una proporción de 3:1 entre mujeres y hombres. Las personas afectadas presentan síntomas que aparecen y desaparecen, ya sea parcial o completamente. La edad de inicio suele estar entre los 20 y los 40 años.
La EMSP es una fase que aparece después de la EMRR. La mayoría de las personas con EMRR terminan desarrollándola (25% a los 10 años, 50% a los 20 años y 75% a los 30 años). Se caracteriza por un deterioro gradual, continuo y constante de los síntomas.
La EMPP comienza con un deterioro continuo de los síntomas, sin recaídas. La proporción entre hombres y mujeres es de 1:1 y la edad media de inicio es de aproximadamente 37–43 años. Representa alrededor del 10–15% de las personas con EM.
References
Coyle, P.K. (2021) ‘What Can We Learn from Sex Differences in MS?’, Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(10), 1006. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8537319/ (Accessed: 15 September 2026)
Rajabi, M., Shafaeibajestan, S., Asadpour, S., Alyari, G., Taei, N., Kohkalani, M., Raoufinia, R., Afarande, H. and Saburi, E. (2025) ‘Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: New Therapeutic Approaches’, Neuropsychopharmacology Reports, 45(3), e70039. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12256204/ (Accessed: 15 September 2026).
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