![]() Together these make up the central nervous system. The ultimate cause of MS is damage to myelin, nerve fibers, and neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Researchers and neurologists still can’t say with certainty what causes MS. In the case of identical twins, if one twin has MS, there’s a 1 in 4 chance that the other twin will also have the disease. But a genetic predisposition to MS may be inherited.Īccording to NINDS, potentially dozens to hundreds of variations among genes may combine to create a genetic predisposition to developing MS.Ĭhildren of parents with MS may have a 10 to 20 times greater chance of developing the condition than the general population. First-degree relatives of someone with MS have a 2.5–5% risk of developing MS. Researchers estimate the heritability - or ability to inherit MS - to be between 35–75%. People with biological relatives who have MS also have a higher risk of developing the condition. MS is three times more common in females than males. About 5,000 children and teens currently live with MS in the United States, and about 10,000 children live with it worldwide, according to the National MS Society. Meanwhile, the lowest risk appears to be among people of Native American, African, and Asian descent.Ĭhildren can get MS, too. People of Northern European descent have the highest risk of developing MS, no matter where they live. West: an estimated 277 cases 100,000 people.South: an estimated 277 cases per 100,000 people.Midwest: an estimated 353 cases per 100,000 people.Northeast: an estimated 377 cases per 100,000 people.Those that do develop MS may be more likely to have a less severe case.Ī 2019 estimate segmented the United States into four regions with the following prevalence: Some researchers consider vitamin D deficiency as a possible explanation for this.Īccording to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people with relatively higher levels of vitamin D are less likely to develop MS. Rates of MS are usually higher further from the equator. ![]() Share on Pinterest Illustration by Bailey Mariner ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |