May 10, 2016
Updated July 1, 2016
In the prevailing theory about how one gets MS, both genetic predisposition and specific environmental factors are required to trigger the body into an autoimmune state. Once in autoimmunity, the body will remain in that state indefinitely.
Many doctors believe that most people will never need to worry about getting MS, no matter what environmental factors they may face. Nonetheless, no simple test yet exists (although, one is being worked on) to know if you have the genetic predisposition, so controlling your environment is a good idea, no matter who you are. About 2.3 million people worldwide have MS.1 In the US, about one in 800 people have MS (about 400,000 total). Canada has the highest rate at one in 3502.
New research suggests that a particular gene may have been identified, which is responsible for the autoimmune response. "This study concluded that the ANKRD55 gene may play a fundamental role in this deregulation."3 If a gene can be identified, then theoretically, a test can be created.
Environmental factors include: gut dysbiosis or a "leaky" gut (usually caused by diet), bodily vitamin D levels, exposure to particular types bacteria or viruses (especially the Epstein-Barr Virus, a.k.a., "mono") and diet. I had mono in college. Some people think that's a pretty huge strike for MS susceptibility. In retrospect, I also had a questionable diet, even though I thought it was pretty healthy.
"Studies on migrants suggest that a childhood in the developing world, where infection with Epstein-Barr generally occurs early, lowers one’s risk of M.S. But acquiring Epstein-Barr in adolescence or adulthood, when it can cause mono — infectious mononucleosis, the “kissing disease,” as American teenagers call it — more than doubles the risk of M.S."4
Environment also includes lifestyle. Things like regular circadian rhythms (good sleep cycles), regular exercise (but not to the point of complete exhaustion), and low daily stress help reduce inflammation. Alcohol consumption can compromise all of these.
So, when I was infected with mono, my adaptive immune system learned how to identify the virus and how to destroy it. This same process occurring for other viruses is why we don't get most colds more than once. Mono, however, has a molecular structure that is very similar to good parts of the body, which makes many scientists think that this is one particular disease that is associated with autoimmune. After infected, if the body enters a high state of inflammation, it can trigger the immune system to activate and start searching for things to attack. Voila. Autoimmunity. Probably the single biggest influence of causing the body to enter a high state of inflammation is diet.
I heard one doctor say that in MS, genetics loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger. In this case, "environment" pertains to a particular type of virus exposure in addition to a state of high bodily inflammation.
In MS the immune cells actually start to attack the central nervous system by destroying the insulative sheaths, called myelin, which surround nerve fibers. After an attack, a scar can form without the body actually healing the damage. MS can become so destructive that it actually starts to destroy the nerve fibers (or axons), themselves. Precisely where nerve damage occurs will determine the particular, resulting symptoms. Some common symptoms include ataxia and walking disability, neuropathic pain, fatigue, dysfunctional thermal regulation, eye pain and vision problems, "brain fog," balance control and bladder control.
- World Health Organization 2013 Report. MS International Federation
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada mssociety.ca