Question by fiksitman2000: What is the major cause for multiple sclerosis?
I have been told that a virus of some sort is to blame,is there any truth in that assumption?
Best answer:
Answer by Wendy C
Could be, A problem with the immune system occurring early in life MAY trigger the onset of MS in some people.
The “trigger” may be a viral infection. In susceptible people, the viral infection may start an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system attacks its own myelin.
The cause of MS is unknown. There may be a genetic link because a person’s risk of MS is higher when a family member such as a sister, brother, or parent has MS.
Geographic location also may play a role. MS is more prevalent in colder regions that are further away from the equator. Researchers have made a connection between a person’s geographic location during childhood and the risk of MS later in life, suggesting that a childhood viral illness or other environmental factors may make a person more likely to develop the disease.
Some evidence suggests that people who move from a high-risk area to a low-risk area, or the reverse, before the age of 15 take on the risk associated with their new area. If they are older than 15, they retain the risk associated with their old area.
A problem with the immune system occurring early in life may trigger the onset of MS in some people. The “trigger” may be a viral infection. In susceptible people, the viral infection may start an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system attacks its own myelin.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that involves the central nervous system-specifically the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. MS can cause problems with muscle control and strength, vision, balance, sensation, and mental functions.
Click this link for more information:
http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/tc/Multiple-Sclerosis-MS-Topic-Overview
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