Which disease has its peak incidence in the mid-20s?

Which disease has its peak incidence in the mid-20s?

• A. Spinal stenosis
• B. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• C. Multiple sclerosis
• D. Rheumatoid arthritis

Answer: (C)

Multiple sclerosis commonly begins in young adults, with many people first presenting in their 20s. This illness is an autoimmune process that targets CNS myelin, leading to episodic neurological symptoms and a broad age range of onset, but a peak likelihood in the mid-20s fits the question well. In contrast, spinal stenosis is largely a degenerative issue seen after about 60; abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs predominantly in older men; rheumatoid arthritis often starts in the 30s to 50s rather than the mid-20s. So the age pattern described aligns best with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis commonly begins in young adults, with many people first presenting in their 20s. This illness is an autoimmune process that targets CNS myelin, leading to episodic neurological symptoms and a broad age range of onset, but a peak likelihood in the mid-20s fits the question well. In contrast, spinal stenosis is largely a degenerative issue seen after about 60; abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs predominantly in older men; rheumatoid arthritis often starts in the 30s to 50s rather than the mid-20s. So the age pattern described aligns best with multiple sclerosis.