We are proud to share that Dr. Deanna Saylor served on the expert panel that developed the newly revised 2024 McDonald diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis, published this week.
These updated criteria reflect significant advances in our understanding of MS and incorporate emerging biomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy across the lifespan—from pediatric to late-life presentations. Notably, the optic nerve is now recognized as a fifth anatomical location for diagnosis, and new tools such as the central vein sign, paramagnetic rim lesions, and CSF kappa free-light chains may be used to support diagnosis in specific contexts.
This work represents a major milestone for the MS community and is expected to expedite diagnosis while maintaining specificity, especially in complex cases involving older adults or comorbid conditions.
Congratulations to Dr. Saylor on this impactful contribution to the field of neurology.