After suddenly losing her vision for 4 months on 11/13/99, she was then diagnosed with having MS. Today, her primary symptoms are fatigue, depression, cognitive memory loss, and optic neuritis of her left eye - loss of vision is 80%. Right eye has grey spots and black floaters. Depth perception is approximately 5 to 10 feet with both eyes.

Since being diagnosed, she participates in the Harvard Multiple Sclerosis Natural History Study conducted by Dr. Howard Weiner at The Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

The Harvard Multiple Sclerosis Natural History Study is a large scale, longitudinal study designed to investigate the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aims of the study are to identify predictors of clinical course in MS and to determine the effects of treatment interventions. One thousand participants will be enrolled and followed over a 10-year period.

All participants will have neurological exams, MRI, and blood testing annually. They will also complete quality of life and mood questionnaires annually. Participants who are untreated or about to begin one of the standard MS treatments may be asked to participate in the Immunology Group of the Natural History Study. These participants will be asked to give additional blood samples. Participants with early MS or those who have been diagnosed with MS in the last two years may be asked to participate in the Newly Diagnosed Group of the Natural History Study. Newly diagnosed participants will have cognitive evaluations designed to measure impairments in attention, concentration, and memory.