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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffSeveral factors may increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis, including:
- Age. Multiple sclerosis can occur at any age, but most commonly affects people who are ages 20 to 40.
- Gender. Women are about twice as likely as men to develop multiple sclerosis.
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Family history. If one of your parents or siblings has multiple sclerosis, you have a 1 to 3 percent chance of developing the disease — as compared with the risk in the general population, which is just a tenth of 1 percent.
However, the experiences of identical twins show that heredity can't be the only factor involved. If multiple sclerosis was determined solely by genetics, identical twins would have identical risks. However, an identical twin has only about a 30 percent chance of developing multiple sclerosis if his or her twin already has the disease.
- Certain infections. A variety of viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus and others, appear to be associated with multiple sclerosis. Researchers study how some infections may be linked to the development of multiple sclerosis.
- Ethnicity. White people, particularly those whose families originated in northern Europe, are at highest risk of developing multiple sclerosis. People of Asian, African or Native American descent have the lowest risk.
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Geographic regions. Multiple sclerosis is far more common in areas such as Europe, southern Canada, northern United States, New Zealand and southeastern Australia. Researchers study why multiple sclerosis appears to more common in certain geographic regions.
If a child moves from a high-risk area to a low-risk area, or vice versa, he or she tends to acquire the risk level associated with his or her new home area. But if the move occurs after puberty, the young adult usually retains the risk level associated with his or her first home.
- Other autoimmune diseases. You may be slightly more likely to develop multiple sclerosis if you have thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Multiple sclerosis: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm. Accessed Aug. 7, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Epidemiology and clinical features of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 13, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Foley F, et al. Taming stress in multiple sclerosis. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/healthy-living/stress/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 24, 2012.
- Harmon M. Exercise as part of everyday life. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/healthy-living/exercise/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Baclofen. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Tizanidine hydrochloride. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant/. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Heat and temperature sensitivity. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/exacerbations/heattemperature-sensitivity/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Food for thought: MS and nutrition. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/healthy-living/nutirtion-and-diet/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Healthy living with MS. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/healthy-living/index.aspx. Accessed Sept. 25, 2012.
- Weinshenker BG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 2, 2012.
- Olek MJ. Comorbid problems associated with multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Dec. 3, 2012.
- Tysabri (prescribing information). Cambridge, Mass.: Biogen Idec; 2012. http://www.biogenidec.com/therapies_tysabri.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2012.
- Medication guide: Tysabri. Biogen Idec. http://www.biogenidec.com/therapies_tysabri.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2012.
- Medication guide: Aubagio. Genzyme Corporation. https://www.aubagio.com/. Accessed Dec. 3, 2012.
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