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Updated: Feb 1, 2026
09:41
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
12.0K
Multiple sclerosis risk factors contribute to onset heterogeneity
Farren B S Briggs1, Justin C Yu1, Mary F Davis2
1Neuroimmunological Disorders Gene-Environment Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 1312 Wolstein Research Building, 2103 Cornell, Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|December 12, 2018
Summary
Individual characteristics like genetics, obesity, and smoking influence how multiple sclerosis (MS) presents and progresses early on. Understanding these factors helps predict disease heterogeneity and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) presentation heterogeneity at onset is not well understood.
- MS risk factors may influence early disease presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate factors contributing to MS presentation heterogeneity.
- Analyze predictors of age of onset (AOO), number of impaired functional domains (NIFDs), time to second relapse (TT2R), and early relapse activity (ERA).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study of MS cases.
- Machine learning for variable selection followed by multivariable regression.
- Adjustments for HLA-DRB1*15:01 and MS genetic risk score (GRS).
Main Results:
- Earlier AOO associated with HLA-DRB1*15:01, GRS, and smoking.
- Male sex, obesity, lower education, and primary progressive MS linked to older AOO.
- Relapsing-remitting MS and lower socioeconomic status (SES) associated with increased NIFDs; obesity and age influenced TT2R and ERA.
Conclusions:
- Individual factors like age, genetics, obesity, and smoking significantly impact MS presentation heterogeneity.
- These factors also modulate the early disease course and relapse activity.
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