There is no surefire way to preventmultiple sclerosis (MS). The condition develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating of nerve cells (myelin sheath), causing damage to the nerves. What triggers this attack is poorly understood.
However, there are several modifiable risk factors that are associated with the onset of the disease, such as smoking, low vitamin D levels, and even where you live. Read on to learn more about how you might be able to reduce your MS risk.
MS: Causes and Risk Factors
Verywell / Laura Porter
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Various risk factors have been associated with the development of MS, but some of them are out of your control. Certain MS risk factors are “non-modifiable” which means that you cannot change them. Here are a few examples.
Age
Research has shown that MS is most common in people between the ages of 20 to 49. However, there are rare cases when children and adolescents under the age of 18, and adults over the age of 50, are diagnosed with MS.
Several studies have looked at people who eventually developed MS and figured out how old they were when they were exposed to potential risk factors. Typically,people under the age of 15have already been exposed to specific things that will lead to MS later in their lives.
Fetuses can also be exposed to factors that drive MS development—for example, if the person who is carrying the fetus is deficient invitamin Dduring their pregnancy.
Sex
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS is diagnosed more often in females than in males—in fact, females are three times as likely to get MS. Researchers think that hormones could play a role in the difference.
How Common Is MS?According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly 1 million people in the United States have the disease. It is estimated that 74% of those 1 million cases occur in females.
How Common Is MS?
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly 1 million people in the United States have the disease. It is estimated that 74% of those 1 million cases occur in females.
Ethnicity
Your ethnic background may also play a role in your susceptibility to developing MS. Although all ethnic groups can get MS, it is most commonly reported in Caucasian people of European descent.
More recent research has shown that Black females are more susceptible to the disease than was previously thought.
Genetics
While MS is not passed down through families or generations, people who have a close relative with the condition are at an increased risk for developing it. There could also be a genetic component to the onset of MS, which would include a person’s genes and any possible genetic variants that they may have.
Variants in genes known as HLA Class II and Class I alleles can drive the increased risk of MS. These genes (human leukocyte antigen genes) play a role in how the body’s immune system responds to foreign invaders.
One specific HLA gene (HLA DRB15:01) is thought to be the main culprit behind MS risk. The specific gene variant is found in 25% to 30% of northern Europeans, which could explain the increased risk of MS that is seen in European Caucasians.
Is MS Hereditary?
Modifiable Risk Factors
There are some risk factors associated with MS that you do have some control over. The things that you can change are called “modifiable risk factors” and include aspects of your lifestyle.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Diet
It is thought that vitamin D’s role in MS is also linked to the environmental risk factor of geography, as people living in some parts of the world get less sunlight exposure and have lower levels of vitamin D.
Geography
MS is more prevalent in areas that are either further north or further south of the equator. That means that people who are born or live in these areas are at a higher risk for developing MS.
However, studies have suggested that if a person is born in a northern climate area and moves close to the equator before the age of 15, they will have a lower risk of getting MS.
Some research has found that people who live further from the equator get less sun, and are therefore more likely to experience low or deficient levels of vitamin D. This is especially true for people who lived in areas with low sun exposure when they were kids.
Studies have also found that people who live in areas that get little sun are more likely to develop MS at a younger age than people living in areas with more sunlight.
7 Surprising Facts About Multiple Sclerosis
Lifestyle
Exercise and MS Risk
One study found that people who participated in rigorous physical exercise for at least three hours per week had a lower risk of getting MS than people who did not get as much activity.
Gut Health
It has been suggested that smoking cigarettes and obesity are risk factors related to MS because of the way they affect the collection of living organisms in the gut that help keep the digestive system healthy (gut microbiome).
Since the gut influences the health of the immune system, smoking and obesity could throw off the balance in gut bacteria, and in doing so, negatively affect immune function. That being said, more research needs to be done to confirm that gut bacteria imbalances are a driver of MS rather than a side effect of the condition.
Infections
There is strong evidence in support of previous infections increasing a person’s risk of developing MS. One viral infection, known as theEpstein-Barrvirus (EBV), has been identified as raising a person’s risk of getting MS. EBV is one most common viruses and is associated withinfectious mononucleosis(mono).
That said, just having an EBV infection alone is not a guarantee that you will develop MS. There are also other risk factors in addition to having the virus that contributes to the risk.
Does EBV Cause MS?
Ongoing MS Research
Although many risk factors for MS have been identified, the disease is still relatively mysterious. It’s not yet clear exactly what causes it, and there is no cure.
Many researchers who study MS are looking at how the nervous system (the communication pathway that nerves use to send messages to and from the brain) interacts with the immune system.
People with MS have faulty immune systems, and therefore, researchers want to figure out how white blood cells (the body’s immune system cells), get into the brain, cause damage, and lead to the symptoms of the condition.
Once they have a better understanding of the process, the hope is that researchers will be able to develop bettertreatments for MSand even find more effective ways to prevent it.
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that has no cure, but there are ways to treat it. It cannot be totally prevented, as there are some risk factors for the condition that you cannot change, such as your age and genetics.
However, making some changes to your lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing MS. For example, making sure that you get enough vitamin D in your diet and quitting smoking.
Living Well With MS
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk factor with the strongest and most conclusive evidence of a link to MS is infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Children who had an EBV infection are almost 15 times more likely to develop MS later in life than kids who were not exposed, and adolescents that have had EBV are roughly 30 times more likely to get MS.Preventing this virus is one of the most important factors in MS prevention.
MS is a progressive disease. Once it develops, it will get worse over time. However, the earlier that you tell your doctor about your symptoms and seek treatment the better because some treatments can slow the disease’s progression.
The Long-Term Effects of MS
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mirmosayyeb O, Brand S, Barzegar M, et al.Clinical Characteristics and Disability Progression of Early- and Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.J Clin Med.2020 May 2;9(5):1326. doi:10.3390/jcm9051326Waubant E, Lucas R, Mowry E, et al.Environmental and genetic risk factors for MS: an integrated review.Ann Clin Transl Neurol.2019 Sep;6(9):1905-1922. doi:10.1002/acn3.50862National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.What Causes MS?Ascherio A, Munger KL, Lünemann JD.The initiation and prevention of multiple sclerosis.Nat Rev Neurol.2012 Nov 5;8(11):602-612. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.198Jakimovski D, Guan Y, Ramanathan M, et al.Lifestyle-based modifiable risk factors in multiple sclerosis: review of experimental and clinical findings.Neurodegener Dis Manag.2019 Jun;9(3):149-172. doi:10.2217/nmt-2018-0046Johns Hopkins Medicine.Multiple Sclerosis Research.Ascherio A.Environmental factors in multiple sclerosis.Expert Rev Neurother.2013 Dec;13(12 Suppl):3-9. doi:10.1586/14737175.2013.865866
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mirmosayyeb O, Brand S, Barzegar M, et al.Clinical Characteristics and Disability Progression of Early- and Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.J Clin Med.2020 May 2;9(5):1326. doi:10.3390/jcm9051326Waubant E, Lucas R, Mowry E, et al.Environmental and genetic risk factors for MS: an integrated review.Ann Clin Transl Neurol.2019 Sep;6(9):1905-1922. doi:10.1002/acn3.50862National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.What Causes MS?Ascherio A, Munger KL, Lünemann JD.The initiation and prevention of multiple sclerosis.Nat Rev Neurol.2012 Nov 5;8(11):602-612. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.198Jakimovski D, Guan Y, Ramanathan M, et al.Lifestyle-based modifiable risk factors in multiple sclerosis: review of experimental and clinical findings.Neurodegener Dis Manag.2019 Jun;9(3):149-172. doi:10.2217/nmt-2018-0046Johns Hopkins Medicine.Multiple Sclerosis Research.Ascherio A.Environmental factors in multiple sclerosis.Expert Rev Neurother.2013 Dec;13(12 Suppl):3-9. doi:10.1586/14737175.2013.865866
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mirmosayyeb O, Brand S, Barzegar M, et al.Clinical Characteristics and Disability Progression of Early- and Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.J Clin Med.2020 May 2;9(5):1326. doi:10.3390/jcm9051326Waubant E, Lucas R, Mowry E, et al.Environmental and genetic risk factors for MS: an integrated review.Ann Clin Transl Neurol.2019 Sep;6(9):1905-1922. doi:10.1002/acn3.50862National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.What Causes MS?Ascherio A, Munger KL, Lünemann JD.The initiation and prevention of multiple sclerosis.Nat Rev Neurol.2012 Nov 5;8(11):602-612. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.198Jakimovski D, Guan Y, Ramanathan M, et al.Lifestyle-based modifiable risk factors in multiple sclerosis: review of experimental and clinical findings.Neurodegener Dis Manag.2019 Jun;9(3):149-172. doi:10.2217/nmt-2018-0046Johns Hopkins Medicine.Multiple Sclerosis Research.Ascherio A.Environmental factors in multiple sclerosis.Expert Rev Neurother.2013 Dec;13(12 Suppl):3-9. doi:10.1586/14737175.2013.865866
Mirmosayyeb O, Brand S, Barzegar M, et al.Clinical Characteristics and Disability Progression of Early- and Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Compared to Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.J Clin Med.2020 May 2;9(5):1326. doi:10.3390/jcm9051326
Waubant E, Lucas R, Mowry E, et al.Environmental and genetic risk factors for MS: an integrated review.Ann Clin Transl Neurol.2019 Sep;6(9):1905-1922. doi:10.1002/acn3.50862
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.What Causes MS?
Ascherio A, Munger KL, Lünemann JD.The initiation and prevention of multiple sclerosis.Nat Rev Neurol.2012 Nov 5;8(11):602-612. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2012.198
Jakimovski D, Guan Y, Ramanathan M, et al.Lifestyle-based modifiable risk factors in multiple sclerosis: review of experimental and clinical findings.Neurodegener Dis Manag.2019 Jun;9(3):149-172. doi:10.2217/nmt-2018-0046
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Multiple Sclerosis Research.
Ascherio A.Environmental factors in multiple sclerosis.Expert Rev Neurother.2013 Dec;13(12 Suppl):3-9. doi:10.1586/14737175.2013.865866
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