Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the central nervous system by causing damage to the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. Although genes appear to play a role in the development of MS, it is not a heritable disease, and it doesn’t pass down from generation to generation like hair color does. However, having a family member with MS increases someone’s genetic risk of the disease in some cases. According to Healthline, the average person has a 0.1% to 0.3% chance of developing MS. Having a parent or sibling with MS increases the risk to approximately 3%, but most parents with MS will not pass down the disease to their children, as noted by MS Focus Magazine.
Studies conducted on identical twins have suggested that if one twin develops MS, there’s a 1 in 4 chance the other twin will develop the disease. These studies are particularly insightful in answering the question of heritability because they suggest that MS is partly genetic, but not completely. If one identical twin had MS, the other twin would have to be 100% likely to develop it if MS was truly a genetic disease, as MS Focus Magazine points out.
Although genetics plays a role in the development of MS, environmental factors also contribute to an individual’s risk for the disease. For example, some evidence suggests that people who live in geographical areas further away from the equator may be more susceptible to developing MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society explains that studies have shown MS occurs more frequently in regions farther from the equator, indicating that exposure to sunlight could be a protective factor for the disease. Research suggests that vitamin D, which is produced by the skin in response to sunlight, may reduce the risk of developing MS.
People with a genetic predisposition to MS may be more susceptible to environmental triggers that activate the disease. Studies suggest that factors such as viral infections, lifestyle choices like smoking, and chronic stress may contribute to MS’s development in people who are genetically susceptible.
Moreover, the probability of developing MS varies among racial and ethnic groups. People of European descent are more likely to develop MS than those of other racial and ethnic groups. However, the disease is not uncommon in other populations. For example, MS is more common among African Americans than previously thought, according to a recent study.
The medical community is still working to determine the causes of MS, and it is a complex disease with many contributing factors. While genetics play a role in a person’s likelihood of developing MS, environmental factors such as location, lifestyle choices, and stress can also trigger the disease. Furthermore, while MS may run in families, it is not heritable in the same way as other traits like eye color or hair color. Nonetheless, having a parent or sibling with MS increases the risk of developing the disease. It is essential to support ongoing research efforts to understand MS so that the medical community can develop more effective treatments and improve the lives of people living with MS.
