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Environmental factors and risk of multiple sclerosis: Findings from meta-analyses and Mendelian randomization studies

Lazaros Belbasis1, Vanesa Bellou1, Evangelos Evangelou2

  • 1Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.

Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|April 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Multiple sclerosis (MS) risk is linked to environmental factors like smoking, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections, and body mass index (BMI). Vitamin D levels may also play a causal role in MS development.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, disabling neurological disease.
  • MS development involves complex genetic and environmental interactions.
  • Over 200 genetic variants are associated with MS risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To update a previous umbrella review on MS risk factors.
  • To identify additional credible environmental risk factors for MS.
  • To explore potential causal roles of factors like vitamin D and BMI in MS.

Main Methods:

  • Updated umbrella review of epidemiological studies.
  • Narrative review of recent research.
  • Discussion of Mendelian randomization study findings.

Main Results:

  • Credible MS risk factors include smoking, infectious mononucleosis history, and anti-EBNA IgG.
  • Additional risk factors identified: childhood/adolescent BMI and anti-VCA IgG.
  • Mendelian randomization suggests potential causal roles for vitamin D and adult BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental factors significantly contribute to MS risk.
  • Further research is needed to confirm causal relationships.
  • Limitations of review methodologies in identifying MS risk factors are discussed.
Keywords:
BiomarkersMendelian randomizationenvironmental factorsmeta-analysismultiple sclerosisrisk factorsumbrella review

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