Five symptoms of MS that could be easily mistaken as The Osmonds star Alan Osmond dies aged 76

Beloved singer Alan Osmond has died at the age of 76 after living with multiple sclerosis for 39 years, a serious condition with several seemingly innocuous early symptoms.

MS is a neurological condition affecting the brain and nervous system. Osmond was diagnosed in 1987.

The singer said: "I was on stage and couldn't raise my right hand. I trusted my Heavenly Father. You have to have opposition in life - this was my test."

He added: "I may have MS, but MS does not have me!"

While there are several treatment options available to help manage the symptoms of MS, there is not currently a cure for it and it affects people for their whole life.

In a statement after his death on April 20, Osmond's family said: "His positive outlook was an inspiration to many, and he donated much of his time speaking at MS events, encouraging individuals like himself on how to mentally and physically deal with the advancement and treatment of the disease."

Alan Osmond in 1995 (John Storey/Getty Images)

Because of the parts of the body that it affects, MS can be highly unpredictable in how it manifests, and different people might have very different experiences with the condition.

This means that some of the symptoms could easily be mistaken for other conditions, with five of the most common early signs being shared by Mayo Clinic.

One such symptom is a lack of coordination, meaning that someone might have clumsy or awkward movements.

This can include a 'foot drop', where the feet might catch or drag on the ground when walking, making navigating stairs or uneven surfaces difficult.

Osmond lived with the condition for decades (John Storey/Getty Images)

Blurry vision is another symptom which could be a sign of MS, though it could also indicate a lot of other conditions.

The MS Trust says a vision problem called optic neuritis is the first symptom one in five people with MS experience, which can lead to blind spots and areas of poor vision.

A third is fatigue, where someone feels consistently very tired despite getting enough rest.

While many of us can feel tired from time to time, MS fatigue is very different, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society says.

That's because it occurs daily and can come on suddenly, gets worse with heat and humidity, and is generally more severe than normal fatigue.

MS can also cause slurred speech as it affects the nervous system, so might make it difficult for someone to speak.

Finally, an easily confused symptom is mood changes - this could be a result of a large number of health conditions, including mental health conditions.

MS is a very varied and complicated condition, and while it can't be cured it can be managed with proper treatment and support.

If you are experiencing symptoms you are concerned about, you should speak to a doctor.