Alejandro Quiroga, President and CEO | Children's Mercy Hospital
Alejandro Quiroga, President and CEO | Children's Mercy Hospital
Researchers in Germany have identified new details about risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, analyzed data from 576 people with MS and 895 without the condition. Participants completed questionnaires about their health history and lifestyle from conception to early adulthood.
The research found that individuals with a first or second degree relative diagnosed with MS had a seven-fold higher risk of developing the disease compared to those without such family history. Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was also linked to triple the risk of MS, although researchers noted that EBV infection during childhood is often asymptomatic and may be underreported.
Body weight at age 18 emerged as another significant factor. Those who were overweight or obese at this age faced an increased risk—between 73% and 229% higher—of being diagnosed with MS later in life. Smoking was associated with a 19% increased risk.
Most participants with MS had relapsing-remitting MS, and the median age at diagnosis was 38 years old. Seventy percent of those studied were women.
The full article can be accessed via HealthCentral.
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