MS is not an inherited or infectious disease. There are a variety of risk factors that increase the odds of developing MS. It is important to be aware of your individual risk factors that could trigger MS, such as:
- Age – onset typically begins in people 20 to 50 years old, though it can occur at any age
- Autoimmune diseases – having another autoimmune condition such as thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes or lupus increases the risk for developing MS
- Genetics – researchers have identified about 200 genes that may slightly increase the risk, which may increase the risk for people with close relatives (parents or siblings) who have MS
- Geography – occurs more frequently in areas farther from the equator
- Infections – certain infectious viruses and bacteria such as Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis), human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), canine distemper, chlamydia, pneumonia and measles
- Obesity – especially as a child or young adult
- Sex – women are three times more likely to develop relapsing forms of MS than men
- Smoking – there is a 50% increased risk for people who smoke tobacco
- Vitamin D deficiency – this includes low levels of vitamin D and a low exposure to sunlight
One or more risk factors do not guarantee you will develop MS. At the same time, few or no risk factors do not mean you will not develop MS. It is unclear why MS develops in some people and not in others with similar risk factors.
To discuss your specific risks and prevention tactics, book an appointment with one of our specialists.
Researcher Uses Mitchell Syndrome Fruit Fly Model to Unlock Secrets of Other Neurological Diseases
Houston Methodist researchers discovered that myelin breakdown results in an accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in the brain that can cause brain cell-damaging inflammation. If lipid accumulation could be reduced, treatment could be applicable to other diseases, including MS.
