Multiple sclerosis risk factors
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Fahimeh Shojaei, M.D.,
Overview
Common risk factors in the development of multiple sclerosis are smoking, genetic, ethnic, infection, low vitamin D, and stress. Less common risk factors in the development of multiple sclerosis include African Americans, Mexicans, Japanese, Chinese and Filipinos race and Epstein-Barr virus.
Risk Factors
Common Risk Factors
- Common risk factors in the development of multiple sclerosis include:
- Smoking: Various studies show that smoking, beside cardiovascular diseases and cancer, can be a risk factor of multiple sclerosis.[1][2]
- Genetic: Studies demonstrate that MS has a strong genetic base. The first degree family of a MS patient is at a 10-25 times greater risk than normal population, so genetically susceptible people are more likely to develop MS disease.[3][4]
- Gender: Prevalence of MS disease is higher in female. This can be hormone related or more susceptibility to environmental risk factors.[5][6]
- Vitamin D: Low vitamin D level seems to be a risk factor for developing MS since the prevalence of MS is lower in regions where people take vitamin D supplement or have higher sunlight exposure.[7][8]
- Stress: Stressful life events can be a risk factor for MS disease. In patients who already have MS, stress and anxiety can lead to exacerbation of their disease.[9][10]
Less Common Risk Factors
- Less common risk factors in the development of multiple sclerosis include:
- Ethnic: MS prevalence is lower in African Americans, Mexicans, Japanese, Chinese and Filipinos people rather than white men.[11]
- Epstein-Barr virus: Patients affected with Epstein-Barr virus seems to be more susceptible to developing MS. Studies shows that high titre of EBV antibodies is a risk factor for MS disease.[12][13]
References
- ↑ Riise T, Nortvedt MW, Ascherio A (October 2003). “Smoking is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis”. Neurology. 61 (8): 1122–4. PMID 14581676.
- ↑ Hernán MA, Olek MJ, Ascherio A (July 2001). “Cigarette smoking and incidence of multiple sclerosis”. Am. J. Epidemiol. 154 (1): 69–74. PMID 11427406.
- ↑ Robertson NP, Fraser M, Deans J, Clayton D, Walker N, Compston DA (April 1996). “Age-adjusted recurrence risks for relatives of patients with multiple sclerosis”. Brain. 119 ( Pt 2): 449–55. PMID 8800940.
- ↑ Sadovnick AD, Baird PA, Ward RH (March 1988). “Multiple sclerosis: updated risks for relatives”. Am. J. Med. Genet. 29 (3): 533–41. doi:10.1002/ajmg.1320290310. PMID 3376997.
- ↑ Orton SM, Herrera BM, Yee IM, Valdar W, Ramagopalan SV, Sadovnick AD, Ebers GC (November 2006). “Sex ratio of multiple sclerosis in Canada: a longitudinal study”. Lancet Neurol. 5 (11): 932–6. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70581-6. PMID 17052660.
- ↑ Whitacre CC (September 2001). “Sex differences in autoimmune disease”. Nat. Immunol. 2 (9): 777–80. doi:10.1038/ni0901-777. PMID 11526384.
- ↑ van der Mei IA, Ponsonby AL, Dwyer T, Blizzard L, Simmons R, Taylor BV, Butzkueven H, Kilpatrick T (August 2003). “Past exposure to sun, skin phenotype, and risk of multiple sclerosis: case-control study”. BMJ. 327 (7410): 316. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7410.316. PMC 169645. PMID 12907484.
- ↑ Munger KL, Zhang SM, O’Reilly E, Hernán MA, Olek MJ, Willett WC, Ascherio A (January 2004). “Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis”. Neurology. 62 (1): 60–5. PMID 14718698.
- ↑ Coo H, Aronson KJ (2004). “A systematic review of several potential non-genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis”. Neuroepidemiology. 23 (1–2): 1–12. doi:10.1159/000073969. PMID 14739563.
- ↑ Goodin DS, Ebers GC, Johnson KP, Rodriguez M, Sibley WA, Wolinsky JS (June 1999). “The relationship of MS to physical trauma and psychological stress: report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology”. Neurology. 52 (9): 1737–45. PMID 10371517.
- ↑ Kurtzke JF, Beebe GW, Norman JE (September 1979). “Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in U.S. veterans: 1. Race, sex, and geographic distribution”. Neurology. 29 (9 Pt 1): 1228–35. PMID 573402.
- ↑ Sundström P, Juto P, Wadell G, Hallmans G, Svenningsson A, Nyström L, Dillner J, Forsgren L (June 2004). “An altered immune response to Epstein-Barr virus in multiple sclerosis: a prospective study”. Neurology. 62 (12): 2277–82. PMID 15210894.
- ↑ Levin LI, Munger KL, Rubertone MV, Peck CA, Lennette ET, Spiegelman D, Ascherio A (May 2005). “Temporal relationship between elevation of epstein-barr virus antibody titers and initial onset of neurological symptoms in multiple sclerosis”. JAMA. 293 (20): 2496–500. doi:10.1001/jama.293.20.2496. PMID 15914750.
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH