HealthCentral: Childhood Infections and Stress May Increase Later MS Risk
By Janet Lee
Researchers have long believed that the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) comes down to a combination of environmental and lifestyle factors as well as genetic susceptibility. Things like exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), smoking, a family history of the condition, having a higher body mass index (BMI), and being deficient in vitamin D are some known factors associated with MS risk.
Now a new German study, published in the journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt, helps sharpen the focus on how some of these known risk factors, as well as things that occur in childhood or early adulthood, may affect the odds of developing MS.
In the new study, researchers analyzed data from 576 people with MS (with an average age of 50, 70% of whom were women) and 895 people without, who served as a control group. In the MS group, most people had relapsing-remitting MS, and the median age at diagnosis was 38.
For both groups, the researchers looked at 10 different factors—assessed via a questionnaire—that could be associated with MS risk, spanning conception to early adulthood (and before being diagnosed, for the group with MS).
The findings were able to add even more detail to what was already known about MS risk factors. For instance, researchers found that having a first or second degree relative with MS was associated with a seven-fold greater risk of being diagnosed with the condition, compared to people who had no family members with MS. And having EBV tripled MS risk, although the researchers indicated this may have been underreported since infection in childhood is often asymptomatic. Being overweight (a body mass index, or BMI, between 25 and 29.9) or having obesity (BMI 30 or higher) at age 18 increased the MS risk anywhere from 73% to 229%, respectively. Being a smoker increased the risk by 19%.
See the full article via HealthCentral