Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a highly debilitating immune mediated disorder of the central nervous system and represents a substantial burden to the developed world. Despite the recent advances in MS research, which risk factors are implicated and how they contribute to MS pathogenesis is largely unknown. However, in line with older studies investigating the genetic and geographical epidemiology of this complex disease, more recent studies have highlighted how MS arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures acting from gestation to early adulthood. Vitamin D deficiency, season of birth, Epstein Barr virus infection, and smoking behaviour are strongly implicated and able to influence genetic predisposition to MS. Furthermore, these factors appear to act synergistically and the risk of MS in individuals exposed to more than one factor combines multiplicatively. Current evidence suggests that a large part of MS could be prevented and understanding how and when during life risk factors act will ultimately aid the development of prevention strategies.
Keywords: Disease aetiology, Epstein Barr virus, genetics; multiple sclerosis, smoking, vitamin D.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Multiple Sclerosis: Risk Factors and their Interactions
Volume: 11 Issue: 5
Author(s): Giulio Disanto, Julia M. Morahan and Sreeram V. Ramagopalan
Affiliation:
Keywords: Disease aetiology, Epstein Barr virus, genetics; multiple sclerosis, smoking, vitamin D.
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a highly debilitating immune mediated disorder of the central nervous system and represents a substantial burden to the developed world. Despite the recent advances in MS research, which risk factors are implicated and how they contribute to MS pathogenesis is largely unknown. However, in line with older studies investigating the genetic and geographical epidemiology of this complex disease, more recent studies have highlighted how MS arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures acting from gestation to early adulthood. Vitamin D deficiency, season of birth, Epstein Barr virus infection, and smoking behaviour are strongly implicated and able to influence genetic predisposition to MS. Furthermore, these factors appear to act synergistically and the risk of MS in individuals exposed to more than one factor combines multiplicatively. Current evidence suggests that a large part of MS could be prevented and understanding how and when during life risk factors act will ultimately aid the development of prevention strategies.
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Cite this article as:
Disanto Giulio, M. Morahan Julia and V. Ramagopalan Sreeram, Multiple Sclerosis: Risk Factors and their Interactions, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2012; 11 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661266
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661266 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
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