Study reveals more evidence that some forms of MS are...

[MSUK]

Study reveals more evidence that some forms of MS are inherited

Less than a year after publishing research identifying a single genetic mutation that caused multiple sclerosis (MS) in two Canadian families, scientists at the University of British Columbia have found a combination of two other mutations in another family that made them highly susceptible to the disease...Read more - http://www.ms-uk.org/study-reveals-more ... ted-180417

[Lisette]

I recently had my DNA tested, for ancestry reasons. To my surprise I have a higher than average Neanderthal percentage, I didn't even realize that this was included in the test. Anyways, after finding this out, I found information about this dna being linked to autoimmune disease. At my last visit to my neurologist, they confirmed that they were aware of this knowledge. So, I wonder is this the culprit, mixed with other factors , to come up with the perfect storm of MS? But, what are the other factors? I have a nephew and two first cousins with MS, all living in the same local environment, which I suppose is a lot higher than average, but what makes us different from the rest of the family?

[lyndacarol]

I recently had my DNA tested, for ancestry reasons. To my surprise I have a higher than average Neanderthal percentage, I didn't even realize that this was included in the test. Anyways, after finding this out, I found information about this dna being linked to autoimmune disease. At my last visit to my neurologist, they confirmed that they were aware of this knowledge. So, I wonder is this the culprit, mixed with other factors , to come up with the perfect storm of MS? But, what are the other factors? I have a nephew and two first cousins with MS, all living in the same local environment, which I suppose is a lot higher than average, but what makes us different from the rest of the family?

Vitamin D levels are frequently low in those with multiple sclerosis. (2011)
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/vit ... -sclerosis

CONCLUSION: 25-OH vit D serum level is very low in MS, mainly in RR-SP and PP MS and is correlated with disability. This suggests MS patients should be screened for vitamin D deficiency and given supplementation systematically when hypovitaminosis D is discovered.


Canadian researchers8 recently reconfirmed the link between vitamin D deficiency and MS, noting that patients who have genetic variations that cause them to have low vitamin D levels are far more likely to develop the disease. (So far, four genetic variations have been found that appear to cause low vitamin D.)
According to co-author Dr. Brent Richards, the researchers "feel that the evidence we have supports a causal relationship, but it does not prove it." :
Genetically lowered 25OHD level is associated with an increase in the risk of MS in people of European descent.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/gen ... e-european

…Four SNPs were genome-wide significant for 25OHD level (p-values ranging from 6× 10-10 to 2 × 10-109), and all four SNPs lay in, or near, genes strongly implicated in separate mechanisms influencing 25OHD.

CMAJ September 1, 2015
Craig Moore, a neuroscience researcher at Memorial University of Newfoundland, questions whether vitamin D supplementation would benefit those with this type of genetic variance, saying:9
"Is their body going to do what it needs to with vitamin D? It's not going to exert the effects that it otherwise would."