Alternative Names
MS
Symptoms & Characteristics
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disorder that affects your brain and spinal cord. It is widely thought that MS is an autoimmune condition and results from an autoimmune attack on myelin, the material that surrounds and protects the nerve cells. This attack damages the myelin, which in turn slows down or blocks messages between your brain and the body causing the symptoms of MS. Common symptoms can include:
- trouble with balance and coordination
- sensations such as numbness, prickling, or "pins and needles"
- thinking and memory problems
Symptoms often begin between the ages of 20 and 40. The severity of the disease varies. While most people have mild symptoms, some people lose their ability to write, speak or walk.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for MS. Medications and treatment may slow disease progression and help control symptoms.
If someone notices or experiences any of the signs or symptoms common to MS, it is important to see a doctor immediately.
How Common Is It?
More than 2.5 million people worldwide are believed to be affected with MS.
- More females than males are affected with MS.
- MS is more common in people from geographic areas located far from the equator.
- MS occurs most commonly in Caucasians of Northern European ancestry and is uncommon in Japan, China, and South America.
Genetics & Inheritance
The causes of MS are largely unknown. MS is most likely a multifactorial condition, which means that it involves a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
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Many environmental factors have been proposed to possibly contribute to MS. Some of these factors include infections, environmental and industrial toxins, diet, and trace metal exposures. The associations, however, between these factors and MS remain inconclusive and unclear.
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Some MS research is focused on the possible relationship between MS and sunlight exposure. When the body is exposed to sunlight, it naturally produces vitamin D. Therefore, people who live closer to the equator are exposed to greater amounts of sunlight and tend to have naturally higher vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is believed to have a beneficial impact on immune function and may therefore, help protect against MS.
It is currently well established that MS also runs in some families. Researchers believe that there are probably a number of genes that cause susceptibility to MS as well as influence the severity and progression of the disease.
Current research is examining a number of candidate genes that may contribute to the development and symptoms of MS.
- Researchers have identified that a common variation of the HLA-DRB1 gene called DRB1*1501 may cause susceptibility to MS in some people. However, it is not yet understood how this variation contributes to MS. HLA-DRB1 is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex located on chromosome 6. There are many different variations of HLA genes and they all function to determine and govern why we are different and how our immune system reacts.
- Researchers have identified at least three other genes (PTPRC, CD24, and IL7R) that cause susceptibility to MS in some families.
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are small variations in a single "letter" of DNA that can be found throughout our entire genetic make-up. Some researchers have proposed that specific SNPs may influence the risk to develop MS in some people. How these SNPs contribute to MS is unclear and much of this research is considered preliminary at this point. Research is currently often limited to specific ethnic groups. Further research is needed to clearly establish an association.
- Other yet to be identified or adequately classified genes may also contribute to MS.
A genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional may be beneficial in discussing the benefits and limitations of genetic testing as well as recurrence risk.
Genetic Testing
Clinical genetic testing for multiple sclerosis is currently unavailable. For more information on the genetics of multiple sclerosis, the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, accurate diagnosis, and recurrence risk; use our find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained genetic professional in your area.
Informational genetic testing for susceptibility to multiple sclerosis is available online (over the internet) as part of a whole genome scan. Whole genome scanning involves analyzing thousands of SNPs at once related to a number of different health conditions.
- At this point, many genetic professionals do not consider this testing clinically useful or medically relevant, but for informational purposes only. Go to the Tests tab to link to providers, compare providers and read provider reviews.
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