Understanding the Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis isn’t inherited, but having a family member with the disease can increase your chance of having the condition. While genetics influences your risk, environmental factors also play a role.

Our genes determine much of who we are as humans. This often applies to health conditions that can seem to run in families.

Sometimes, we inherit these conditions directly from our parents. Other times, our genes play a less direct role, increasing our risk of developing a condition.

Keep reading to learn the role our genes play in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Does multiple sclerosis run in families?

You don’t inherit MS in the same way you inherit your eye color or other traits. Still, research suggests you’re more likely to develop MS if you have family members with MS.

A 2023 study looked at more than 25,000 people with MS in Sweden. Researchers found that people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with MS were seven to eight times as likely to also develop MS as people in the broader population.

Even having a second-degree relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece) with MS was enough to double your risk.

While a family history of the condition may increase your risk, the overall risk is still relatively small. The lifetime risk for first-degree relatives is 2% to 4%. However, the rate is much higher for monozygotic (identical) twins.

ResearchTrusted Source also suggests that when MS runs in families, symptoms may appear earlier. However, it’s unclear whether the disease presents earlier or whether increased awareness and vigilance lead to faster recognition of symptoms and diagnosis.

Overall, only about 1 in 8 cases Trusted Source of MS is familial. Most people with MS do not have a family history of the condition.

How do genetics contribute to multiple sclerosis?

Scientists have identified more than 200 genesTrusted Source that contribute to MS risk. Having specific variants of some of these genes can influence your risk of developing MS.

A mutation in one gene isn’t typically enough to cause MS. The disease is polygenic, meaning it usually results from variations in several genes.

A 2023 study estimated that MS is about 51% due to genetic factors, with the rest due to environmental factors.

Specific genes involved

The gene variant with the strongest link to MS is HLA DRB1*1501.

This gene is part of the HLA complexTrusted Source, a group of genes on chromosome 6. These genes play an essential role in helping your immune system recognize foreign proteins. In addition to MS, gene mutations in this complex contribute to autoimmune diseases such as:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• type 1 diabetes
• celiac disease

Other genes involved includeTrusted Source:

• other immunity-related genes, like IL2RA, IL17R, and CD24
• VDR and CYP27B1, genes responsible for vitamin D metabolism
• ApoE, a gene involved in brain health that’s closely tied to Alzheimer’s disease

What other factors contribute to the development of MS?

Certain risk factors may interact with risk genes to make it more likely that you will develop MS. Researchers have linked the followingTrusted Source to increased MS risk:

• contracting Epstein-Barr virus
• vitamin D deficiency
• smoking
• obesity

Although there’s no way to ensure you will prevent MS, addressing these risk factors, especially if you have a family history of the condition, may help reduce your risk.

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