Published on Feb 4, 2018
The risk of Multiple Sclerosis in the general population depends on geography. Where I live in the midwestern United States that risk is about 1:700.
The risk for the first degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) to get MS if you have it is about 1-3%. That’s a lot higher than the risk to the general population, but still quite low in absolute numbers.
There is some data to support certain environmental factors that might probably worsen then genetic risk to develop MS in children of people with MS. These factors include morbid obesity, tobacco exposure including second hand smoke, and low/ low normal vitamin D3. A PwMS considering pregnancy and raising a child is encouraged to discuss each of these factors with their own MS provider.
(Please remember that as science advances, the information above will certainly become outdated in the future I’m sure) ~~ Aaron Boster, MD ~~
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