Originally published September 4 2005
Environmental factors could increase MS risk
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and although genetics play a role in making a person more susceptible to the disease, environmental factors are also thought to increase the risk of the disease, new studies show.
A new study contradicts previous findings that when multiple sclerosis occurs it strikes older siblings most often.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
It occurs when myelin, a substance that forms a sheath around nerve fibers, is destroyed by the immune system.
Worldwide, multiple sclerosis is thought to affect as many as 2.5 million people.
Although genetics play a role in making a person more susceptible to the disease, environmental factors are also thought to increase the risk of the disease.
"The data presented here cast no doubt on the importance of environmental factor to MS risk," say researchers Dessa Sadovnick of the University of British Columbia, Canada, and George Ebers of Oxford University, England.
In the U.S., approximately 400,000 people have MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
On a weekly basis, about 200 people in the nation are diagnosed as having the disease, which affects two to three times as many women as men.
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an individual's risk of developing MS increases several fold if a close family member has MS.
In general, multiple sclerosis strikes adults between the ages of 20 and 50.
Environmental factors such as exposure to germs and viruses may play a role in developing multiple sclerosis.
Previous findings on the risk of developing multiple sclerosis were reported and interpreted in the context of the hygiene hypothesis, which held that siblings born later were protected from infection through exposure early in life -- usually from infection in their older siblings.
The new study, published by The Lancet Neurology, appeared online today.
The researchers analyzed data from the Canadian Collaborative Project on Genetic Susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.
Researchers compared data taken from 10,995 individuals with multiple sclerosis with that of 26,336 healthy siblings.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml