Treatment discontinuation in older people with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this review was to examine the evidence for disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) discontinuation in older people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We first summarized aging-associated biological changes that influence MS progression and DMT effectiveness, and then summarized recent evidence in evaluating clinical outcomes of discontinuing DMTs in older people with MS.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings provide mixed evidence regarding the outcomes of DMT discontinuation in older people with MS. Retrospective observational studies suggested older age and longer stable duration on DMT before DMT discontinuation were associated with lower risk of relapse in people with MS. However, one randomized clinical trial did not demonstrate the noninferiority of DMT discontinuation.

SUMMARY: The available clinical evidence examining DMT discontinuation in older people with MS remains inconclusive. More robust evidence from clinical trials and real-world data will be necessary to guide clinical decisions regarding DMT discontinuation in older people with MS.