Complications
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Causes
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How many factors are there for MS?
Is multiple sclerosis a degenerative disease?
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What other factors may influence the development of multiple sclerosis?
These factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis:Age. ... Sex. ... Family history. ... Certain infections. ... Race. ... Climate. ... Vitamin D. Having low levels of vitamin D and low exposure to sunlight is associated with a greater risk of MS .Certain autoimmune diseases.More items...•
What contributes to multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking the brain and nerves. It's not clear why this happens but it may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
What is the most common precipitating factor in multiple sclerosis?
The strongest risk factor for multiple sclerosis known so far is infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). An EBV infection has been shown to increase the risk of developing the autoimmune disorder by 32 times. However, this infection alone is not enough to trigger the disease.
What environmental triggers cause MS?
Environmental FactorsGeographic gradient. MS is known to occur more frequently in areas that are farther from the equator. ... Vitamin D. Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in MS. ... Smoking. The evidence is also growing that smoking plays an important role in MS. ... Obesity.
What are environmental triggers for MS?
MS Environmental Factors. Environmental factors increase the risk of developing the MS. Factors include low levels of vitamin D, sun exposure, high cow's milk consumption and more. Research has shown that environmental factors play a significant role in your susceptibility to MS.
What are the four commonly affected areas in multiple sclerosis?
DIS principle requires that there are asymptomatic lesions typical of MS present in 2 or more sites within the central nervous system: periventricular, subcortical, infrantentorial, and spinal cord.
What is the leading cause of MS?
The strongest risk factor for multiple sclerosis known so far is infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). An EBV infection has been shown to in...
Can MS be transmitted?
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder caused by a person's immune system accidentally attacking that individual's own healthy tissue. The di...
Who is most likely to get MS?
Multiple sclerosis is more common in women than men, and the disease is mostly diagnosed in adulthood. White people are more often affected than As...
Are people born with MS?
No. The immune attack that drives multiple sclerosis is believed to broadly result from an immune system malfunction as immune cells fight off pote...
Can you suddenly get MS?
The criteria used to diagnose multiple sclerosis require the presence of brain or spinal cord lesions on MRI scans that appear over time. Even if a...
What are the factors that affect MS?
Age, sex, and race: Demographic factors such as age, sex and race may increase an individual’s risk of developing MS. For example, the risk of developing MS increases with age. In addition, due to genetic variations, women are twice as likely as men to develop the condition.
What are the risk factors for multiple sclerosis?
Some of the most common risk factors for multiple sclerosis include: Genetics: While MS is not a hereditary disorder, studies have shown that having immediate relatives such as a parent or siblings with MS may greatly increase a person’s risk of developing the condition. Certain infections: A variety of viruses have been found to increase ...
What are the cofactors of MS?
Certain infections: A variety of viruses have been found to increase the risk of developing MS. There is mounting evidence that some viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) may be possible co-factors in MS development.
Is multiple sclerosis a risk factor?
Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis. Even though the exact cause behind multiple sclerosis (MS) is still unknown, there is increasing evidence suggesting that numerous factors may increase the risk of developing this condition.
Is obesity a risk factor for MS?
Obesity: People who are obese are also at an increased risk of developing MS. For example, a Canadian study found that an elevated body mass index (BMI) may influence MS susceptibility. Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as climate are also believed to be risk factors for MS.
Is smoking more common in MS patients than non smokers?
Smoking: Research has shown that smokers are 1.5 times more likely to develop MS than nonsmokers. It has been found that cigarette smoking not only increases the susceptibility towards MS but may also contribute to rapid disease progression. Obesity: People who are obese are also at an increased risk of developing MS.
Is Multiple Sclerosis News Today a news website?
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be ...
How many factors are there for MS?
While some of these can be controlled by the patient to reduce the risk, others are a genetic factor that can’t be changed. Eight factors exist that are easily recognized.
Is multiple sclerosis a degenerative disease?
It is also a disease of the nervous system, since this is the part of the body that is attacked and damaged by lymphocytes (T-cells that control immune response). In addition, it is a degenerative disease, which means that the damage caused by the attacks cannot be repaired and worsen over time, causing disability in the patient.
What is the immune system in multiple sclerosis?
In multiple sclerosis, the body’s own immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS) and causes damage, which slows or stops nerve transmission.
Where does MS occur?
MS is known to occur more frequently in areas that are farther from the equator. Epidemiologists — scientists who study disease patterns in large groups of people— are looking at variations in geography, demographics (age, gender and ethnic background), genetics, infectious causes and migration patterns in an effort to understand why.
How do T cells work in MS?
T cells become activated in the lymph system and in MS, enter the CNS through blood vessels. Once in the CNS, T cells release chemicals that cause inflammation and damage. This results in damage to myelin, nerve fibers and the cells that make myelin. T cells are also important to help activate B cells and call on other immune system cells ...
What are the two types of immune cells in MS?
Many different cells are involved in the abnormal immune response. Two important types of immune cells are T cells and B cells.
Why are T cells important?
T cells are also important to help activate B cells and call on other immune system cells to participate in the immune attack. T regulatory cells, a type of T cell, dampen or turn off inflammation. In MS, T regulatory cells to not function correctly and do not effectively turn off inflammation. Cytotoxic or “killer” T cells directly attack ...
What is the role of cytotoxic T cells in MS?
Cytotoxic or “killer” T cells directly attack and destroy cells bearing certain characteristics. B cells become activated with the help of T cells. B cells produce antibodies and stimulate other proteins and in MS, these cause damage in the CNS.
How much risk of MS in identical twins?
In identical twins, if one twin has MS the risk that the other twin will develop MS is about 1 in 4. The risk of developing MS is also increased when other first degree relative (parents, siblings and children) have MS, but far less than in identical twins.
What is the hypothesis that risk variants increase the propensity to develop MS?
Altogether, available functional data pinpoint at a “transcriptional hypothesis” where risk variants increase the propensity to develop MS by affecting primarily the expression of the associated genes. To this extent, recent advances in bioinformatics and computer-based methods of analysis have greatly helped toward the identification of the cellular pathways dysregulated upon disease.
What is the most effective way to address the complexity of MS genetics?
In summary, an integrated approach involving multiple disciplines and technologies is likely to be the most effective way to address the complexity of MS genetics and identify biologically meaningful correlations between risk variants and specific molecular functions.
How does big data help in genetics?
The advent of “big data” in genetic research has been paralleled by the development of computational methods that could handle the size and complexity of this new type of information . In particular, different in silicoapproaches have been optimized to extract biologically meaningful associations from large genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets. These methods usually rely on the computation of overrepresentation of the input genes in specific gene ontology (GO) categories or biological pathways. More elaborated algorithms instead take advantage of gene interaction networks and search for possible sub-networks (modules) enriched in the input genes. Cell specificity and epigenomic reference datasets add additional layers of complexity to the analysis.
How many people have MS?
With the age of onset ranging between 20 and 40 years, MS represents the most common cause of acquired neurological disability among young adults, affecting over 2.5 million people worldwide. MS affects women more often than men (3:1 ratio), but its incidence also varies according to ethnicity and geographical location, with northern Europeans and their descendants being more susceptible to develop the disease (4). MS etiology is still elusive but there is a growing body of experimental evidence, suggesting that both genetic determinants and environmental factors converge to determine disease susceptibility and clinical trajectory. This chapter will review key milestones in MS genetic research with an emphasis on the technological and conceptual advances that have fueled the identification of discrete genomic loci associated with MS risk.
Where is the strongest genetic association signal in MS?
The strongest genetic association signal in MS resides within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in chromosome 6p21.3. This 4-megabase region contains approximately 160 closely linked genes. About half of these genes have important roles in the regulation of the immune system, and include the six classical transplantation human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes—the class I genes HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C, and the class II genes HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DRB1(12). HLAgenes are highly polymorphic, with over 15,000 alleles identified to date (http://hla.alleles.org/nomenclature/index.html). The first evidence of association between HLAand MS risk dates back to 1972, when the frequencies of surface glycoproteins encoded by the HLA-A3and HLA-B7class I alleles were found enriched in MS patients using serological reagents (13, 14). In the following years, numerous investigations, regardless of sample size and the resolution, have independently replicated the association of the HLAlocus with MS risk across all populations studied, in both primary progressive and relapsing-remitting patients. Although the initial association was to class I HLA-Aand HLA-Balleles, better powered studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have shown that the main MS susceptibility signal genome-wide maps to the HLA-DRB1locus in the class II region of the MHC. The HLA-DRB1*15:01allele has the strongest effect, with an average odds ratio (OR, a frequently used measure of effect size) of 3.08 and a clear dose response to 0, 1, or 2 allele copies the individual carries (15). However, complex allelic hierarchical lineages, cis/trans-epistatic and haplotypic effects, and independent protective signals, specifically in the class I region of the locus, have been documented as well.
Is MS a disease?
Although MS naturally occurs only in humans, different animal models have been developed in which a disease mimicking MS is induced artificially. According to the nature of the inducing agent, the current models can be grouped into three categories: autoimmune, viral, and neurotoxic (38). Among them, the most widely used model is experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which falls in the first category. EAE is an experimental disease that can be induced in several species (e.g., rodents, primates, cats, dogs, and chickens) via immunization with spinal cord homogenates or, more often, with purified peptides containing specific sequences of myelin proteins such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), myelin basic protein (MBP), and myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). EAE recapitulates several features of MS, including the influence of genetic and environmental factors. This evidence has led to the search for the genetic determinants modulating EAE susceptibility with the intention of getting insights into the human counterpart.
Is MS heritable in North America?
Another factor supporting MS heritability consists in the distinctive worldwide prevalence of the disease. People living in northern Europe and North America exhibit a higher disease incidence (1–2 in 1000) when compared with southern Europeans. Moreover, MS is uncommon in some ethnic groups such as Uzbeks, Samis, Turkmen, Kyrgyzis, Kazakhs, native Siberians, North and South Amerindians, Japanese, Chinese, African blacks, and New Zealand Maori (9). Although these differences could be partially explained by differential exposure to specific environmental factors (such as certain nonubiquitous pathogens), the presence of MS-resistant or low-incidence ancestral groups suggests that the history and genetic architecture of a population influence its own risk of developing MS.
Why do people with multiple sclerosis develop symptoms at an earlier age?
People living in countries further away from the equator develop symptoms of multiple sclerosis at an earlier age, research suggests. Both genetic and environmental factors are believed to be to behind the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), with previous work revealing that prevalence of the disease is higher among those living further away ...
How old is MS?
The average age at which the disease began was 32.3 years.
Is lack of sunlight a sign of MS?
Dr Sorrel Bickley, head of biomedical research at the MS Society, said: “We’ve known for many years that people living in less sunny climates are more likely to develop MS, and this study indicates that a lack of sunlight could also contribute to when the first symptoms of MS appear. We welcome studies like this that help us understand more about the causes of this unpredictable and challenging condition.”
Does vitamin D help MS?
Altmann added that vitamin D dietary supplements could play a role in reducing the risk of developing MS. “It is such a simple answer and it’s crazy that we don’t take it more seriously,” he said.
Does sunlight affect MS?
While the authors say that the findings emphasise the importance of exposure to sunlight in the development of MS, they acknowledge that other environmental factors as well as genetic variation could also play a role in the link between latitude and age of onset of the disease.
What are the symptoms of MS?
There are three main clinical manifestations of MS, each with unique initial presenting symptoms: 1 Opticospinal MS: blurred vision, vision changes, memory problems, and lesions on the optic nerve. 2 Spinal MS: weakness, numbness, bladder and bowel problems 3 Cerebellar MS: nystagmus, ataxia and weakness in all extremities
How to confirm MS diagnosis?
In order to confirm diagnosis of MS, the provider must first rule out other neurodegenerative diseases. MRI imaging and spinal fluid analysis are used in the confirmation of disease (Garg & Smith, 2015). To correctly diagnose the disease there must be evidence of neuronal damage in at least two areas of the CNS, and this damage must have occurred at least one month apart (Garg & Smith, 2015).
What triggers the inflammatory demyelination process?
In MS, the immune system triggers a T and B cell response to myelin self-antigens, which starts the beginning of the early inflammatory demyelination process. The autoimmune response triggers peripheral activation of CD4+ T-cells and CD8+ T-cells, which cross the blood brain barrier (McCance & Huether, 2014). Once in the brain parenchyma CD4+ T-cells attach to antigens on myelin basic protein which is presented by antigen-presenting cells. This causes the CD4+ T-cells to activate production of IL-12 and IL-23 which play a minor role in the inflammatory destruction of myelin by causing persistent activation of microglia and macrophages. It also causes the activation of IL-17 from T-helper 1, which is a more potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that is highly expressed, particularly during relapse of the disease (Garg & Smith, 2015).
What is the term for blurred vision, vision changes, memory problems, and lesions on the optic nerve?
Opticospinal MS: blurred vision, vision changes, memory problems, and lesions on the optic nerve.
What happens when you lose myelin?
The loss of myelin causes a loss of nerve conductivity and eventual death of neurons. This death of neurons leads to a loss of brain volume and disruption of sodium, calcium and potassium ion channels, which further interfere with neuronal conductivity (McCance & Huether, 2014).
How do B cells work?
The B cells are thought to work by producing autoantibodies, which further activate T cells. The CD8+ T-cells are believed to drive direct axonal injury to MHC I/antigen expressing cells such as neurons and oligodendrocytes (McCance & Huether, 2014).
What are the two main courses that MS takes?
There are two main courses that MS usually takes. The most common is relapse-remitting. Primary progressive course is less common. The relapse-remitting can turn into secondary progressive, which starts as relapse-remitting, but eventually turns into a progressive course (McCance & Huether, 2014).
How many factors are there for MS?
While some of these can be controlled by the patient to reduce the risk, others are a genetic factor that can’t be changed. Eight factors exist that are easily recognized.
Is multiple sclerosis a degenerative disease?
It is also a disease of the nervous system, since this is the part of the body that is attacked and damaged by lymphocytes (T-cells that control immune response). In addition, it is a degenerative disease, which means that the damage caused by the attacks cannot be repaired and worsen over time, causing disability in the patient.