Former news editor Nuno Ferrão has spoken about living with multiple sclerosis, describing how the neurological condition reshaped his life and career.
The 52-year-old writer, who spent years working as a journalist for the Lusa news agency, shared his experience on CMTV's Grande Jornal broadcast on August 30, 2026.
Ferrão was 30 years old, working at Lusa, and living a peaceful phase of life as a new father when his first symptom appeared. While writing a news report about former footballer Vítor Baía, his fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.
As an editor at the agency, he soon experienced memory problems caused by the disease, which interferes with communication between the brain and the body, ultimately forcing him to stop working.
Onset of Symptoms and Career Impact
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, neurological, and autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. For Ferrão, who is passionate about both real and imagined stories, the condition worsened during his separation from his former wife.
The separation triggered two years of severe depression. Ferrão remained locked inside his home to watch films, read, and write while his physical condition degraded rapidly.
His neurologist explained that depression is directly associated with the neurological disease itself. The explanation helped Ferrão realize that he needed to react.
Daily Mobility and Outlook
Ferrão now relies on a walker to move around and uses a wheelchair at times. Despite these physical difficulties, he has learned not to anticipate the future and focuses on living one day at a time.
Medical Context and Related Research
Multiple sclerosis is a rare neurological disease that causes lesions in the central nervous system. Authorities have also prohibited medications for multiple sclerosis and hyperactivity from being exported.
A medical study has reinforced suspicions that the Epstein-Barr virus may cause multiple sclerosis.
