Is plates sclerosis (MS) hereditary?

Malk sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease in which your immune system attacks your central nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord and your optic nerve, destroying cells, tissues and protective nervous coatings called myelin.

Although your genes play a role in the question of whether you develop MP – and the risk is higher if other people in your family also have it –MS is not a hereditary disease transmitted directly from a family member to another.

Hereditary diseases are genetic changes, or mutations, transmitted from one parent to another. For example, cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease caused by the mutation of a specific gene called CFTR– And if you inherit a CFTR Gene of your two parents, you will have cystic fibrosis.

Multiple sclerosis is not a hereditary disease, even if genetics plays a role.

For example, researchers have identified more than 200 genes associated with an increased risk of MS. But being born with genes associated with a risk of MS is only a piece of the puzzle: You need a combination of genetics and environmental factors to develop the disorder.

If you were born with genes that allow the development of MS in the right circumstances, exposure to certain factors or circumstances can trigger the start of MS. Many people were born with a genetic predisposition and never develop MS.

What is the risk if a family member has a SP?

Although MS is not hereditary, it tends to run in families. About 15 to 20% of people with the disease have family history.

The average person in the United States is less likely than 1% to obtain MS, but this risk increases for first degree parents:

• There is a Risk of 2% for children Parents with MP.
• There is a 4% risk for brothers and non -identical twins someone with SP.
• There is a 31% risk for the other identical twin When a twin is diagnosed with MS.

In addition to certain hereditary genes, many factors are associated with an increased risk of MS. These include:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): EBV is the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, or mono. Experts do not know why people who have been infected with EBV, especially as adolescents or adults, have a higher risk of MS than infected people or not at all children. This may be due to the fact that the virus triggers an increased inflammatory response by the immune system.
• Low vitamin D: People with low levels of vitamin D in their blood run a higher risk for MS, probably due to the importance of healthy immune function. Most of our vitamin D comes from sun exposure. The researchers discovered that the SEP was less common in the areas closer to the equator, where there is more strong sun for more months of the year.
• Obesity: Having obesity in adolescence and young adulthood can increase the risk of Sep later in life, especially in girls. Obesity causes inflammation in the body, which can trigger MS in people at genetic risks. Research suggests that adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or more are most at risk.
• Smoking: Smoking is linked to a higher risk of many health problems, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Smoking increases your risk by MS, and this can also worsen the severity of your symptoms and accelerate the progression of the disease.

If you are at risk of multiple sclerosis, it may be useful to know some of the first signs of MS so that you can recognize them as soon as possible. The symptoms of MS often start in adulthood, between 20 and 40 years old. SEP symptoms may include:

• Vision changes such as double vision and eye pain
• Muscle weakness, stiffness, pain or spasms
• Tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, face or chest
• Difficulty with balance
• Bladder symptoms, including incontinence
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering

Many symptoms ride other conditions, so the diagnosis of MS can be difficult. There is no unique test that can confirm that you have it. On the contrary, doctors are counting on a combination of strategies, including physical exams, blood tests, vertebral fluid tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose or exclude other causes.

Any change in your neurological health justifies an appointment with a health care provider. It is a good idea to first see a primary care provider to exclude other more common causes from your symptoms. They can refer to a neurologist (a specialist in the nervous system) for more evaluation or treatment if necessary.

A delay in the diagnosis of MS also means a delay in the treatment of MS, which can make your symptoms more difficult to manage. Serious and permanent nerve lesions can occur even in the early stages of the disease.

Early detection means that you can access the treatments available to help control symptoms and limit damage to your central nervous system if you have a SEP.

SCLERROSE in plates (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects your nervous system, damaging your nerves and their protective coatings. The MS is caused by a combination of environmental genes and factors, but it is not a hereditary disease.

Your risk of SEP development is higher if you also have other risk factors, such as a parent with MS, infection by the Epstein-Barr virus, obesity or low levels of vitamin D.