It wasn't long ago that science insisted stress had little influence on MS — or, for that matter, on health in general. Despite anecdotal evidence from patients that stress seemed to exacerbate their MS symptoms, it wasn't generally recognized as an influencing factor in the disease. The jury is still out on whether it plays a definitive role in causing exacerbations, but some studies indicate there may be a relationship between stress and the onset of MS. A recent Dutch study found that ongoing stressful life conditions may make MS symptoms worse.