risk factors

Prior infection with the cytomegalovirus (CMV), a type of herpesvirus, was associated with lower odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), while herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection showed no significant association with the disease. That’s according to a study involving data from more than 320,000 individuals in Israel that also…

Medically indicated cesarean sections (C-sections) before 39 weeks of gestation, or full term pregnancy, may be more frequent among women with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in those without the disease, a study found. However, this difference was not linked to MS itself, with most commonly reported reasons for early…

People whose dietary habits are more in line with a Mediterranean-style diet may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Iran suggests. Results also indicate that the risk of MS may be higher in people who don’t get enough of certain key nutrients from their…

Scientists have identified dozens of genes in specific immune cells that may influence the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) and susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), offering new clues about the biological mechanisms that may connect EBV infection with MS. A new study by…

Concussions during adolescence may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but only if the concussion occurs before the individual has infectious mononucleosis, a condition caused by infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a new study. The findings suggest that a concussion occurring before a person…

Taking vitamin C supplements may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly for people with a higher genetic predisposition to the disease, according to a study. The researchers stressed that further work is needed to validate the findings, but they said their data warrant additional studies to…

Certain gut bacteria may influence the odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), in part by altering the activity of specific immune cells, according to an analysis of data from tens of thousands of people. While the findings point to possible biological mechanisms linking gut bacteria and MS, the associations…

For teenagers, eating a healthy diet during one’s adolescent years — particularly one rich in milk, cheese, and yogurt, among other dairy products — may help reduce the risk of developing late-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, a study has found. In fact, participants in the study who…

Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, such as soft drinks, packaged snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, may be associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). That’s according to a large study involving nearly 186,000 middle-aged adults in the U.K., which found that each 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake…

The presence of multiple asymptomatic spinal cord lesions — areas of damage, as captured by imaging scans — is associated with about a twofold higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) for people with a first episode of myelitis, or inflammation of the spinal cord, a new study suggests.

Eating greater amounts of ultra-processed foods is significantly linked to a higher likelihood of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in childhood or adolescence, a new study that used data from Canada and the U.S. has found. In fact, according to the researchers, each additional 10% consumption of such foods —…

People with diabetes are significantly more likely — with nearly 60% higher odds — to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than those without the metabolic disease, which is marked by high blood sugar levels, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis. A significant association was also observed specifically between…

A history of infectious mononucleosis, often called “mono,” more than triples the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. While scientists have long suspected a link between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and MS, these findings provide evidence that a documented case of mono serves…

Exposure to higher levels of ground-level ozone may significantly increase the risk that children and teens will develop multiple sclerosis (MS), a new Italian study suggests. Researchers found that for every unit increase in ozone levels in the three years preceding the first MS symptoms, the likelihood of…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has become far more common in England over the past two decades, but people diagnosed more recently are living longer, according to a study led by University College London (UCL). The shift reflects major advances in MS diagnosis and care. But researchers found that social…

Close relatives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are 100 times more likely to develop the neurological disorder than the general population, according to a new analysis of GEMS data. Among participants in GEMS, a large-scale observational study assessing MS risk among family members, about half said…

While many genetic factors that increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) are shared across ancestral backgrounds, a study identified a variant that may reduce MS risk in South Asian people, which had not been seen in European studies — suggesting that studies focusing mainly on people of European descent…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a nearly fivefold increased risk of developing dementia compared with those without the disease, according to a real-world study in Taiwan. Treatment with disease-modifying therapies significantly reduced the risk for neurodegenerative dementias, or dementias associated with the loss of brain cells, the…

Closely following a Mediterranean diet — which involves eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limiting intake of processed and sugary foods — is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a large Swedish study has found. The benefits, however, were seen mostly…

A history of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appears to alter the immune systems of people with specific genetic traits, causing their own cells to mistakenly flag brain proteins as dangerous threats, according to a new study. This discovery offers insight into how these risk factors — viral infection and…

A greater intake of vitamin D, from both food and supplements, was linked to a 42% lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) among women living in Norway, according to a large prospective study. “Our findings suggest that a higher dietary intake of vitamin D decreases the risk of…

People exposed to higher levels of certain manufactured compounds that persist in the environment are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. A higher MS risk was associated with elevated levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” and specific metabolites of PCBs,…

Eating more oily fish and wholegrain or wholemeal bread may help reduce a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study that used data from a large U.K. database. The findings contribute to growing evidence showing that diet is “a potentially modifiable factor in MS…

People who drink coffee may have a more than 20% lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with those who do not, according to a new analysis of published studies that pooled data from more than 4,500 participants from seven countries. “These results suggest that coffee consumption might…

Eating more carbohydrates is significantly associated with a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly among women and people younger than 60, according to a study based on data from the U.K. “Higher intakes of total carbohydrates, total sugars, fiber, fructose, and glucose were significantly associated with increased…

A gene on the X chromosome that is more active in women than men appears to drive inflammation in the brain, helping to explain why women are more likely to develop neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study out of the…

People genetically prone to a higher body mass index (BMI) are also more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), a study finds. The findings confirm an association between being overweight or obese and a higher likelihood of developing MS, and suggest that lifestyle changes to maintain a healthy weight…

While certain autoimmune diseases are linked to an increased risk of digestive system cancers, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be less likely to develop some of these malignancies, according to an analysis of published studies. Researchers found that MS patients are at lower risk of developing pancreatic, esophageal,…

A research project to explore the genetic connection between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) has been awarded a $24,400 incubator grant by the nonprofit MS Australia. Titled “A novel use of human genetics to recruit participants for MS research,” the…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new analysis of genetic data. The findings indicate genetic changes that influence the activity of immune T-cells may play a role in both MS and Alzheimer’s. The study, “Multiple sclerosis…