Genetics:

Many people ask if MS can be passed on? There is no direct genetic hereditary risk, as no single gene has been identified.

However there can be more than one person in a family with MS, we know that the risk to your children if you have MS is a 1.5% chance that they may develop it, but that’s a 98.5% chance that they won’t.

If you have a brother or sister with MS then the risk of them developing it, is a 2.7% chance.

Obesity:

Some studies have shown that if you were overweight as a child or teenager then the risk of developing MS is increased. We are not sure why this is, it could be related to a lack of vitamin D. Further studies are planned.

Environment:

We know that there is little to no MS in the equator counties (Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Uganda ect). However the further north or south you go, the more prevalent it becomes. This may be related to the level of Vitamin D you absorb in the warmer climates verses the colder ones. Or it may be related to the type of viruses that live in the colder counties and the risk of being exposed to one of those viruses before the age of 15/16yrs.

Smoking:

In the last few years, studies have shown that if you smoke, this adds to your risk of developing MS. And if you smoke and have MS, this can bring on a more progressive disease, however if you stop smoking then the progression slows.

Vitamin D:

The role of Vitamin D is largely unknown in MS, however we do see evidence that it helps to prevent the disease. This is why we encourage people with MS to give their children under 16, Vitamin D supplements. We also encourage the person with MS to use Vitamin D also at 3,000 iu a day. (see the Barts Blog for more information https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/ )