Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice
Published on: October 13, 2023
Environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis: bridging Mendelian randomization and observational studies
Marijne Vandebergh1, Nicolas Degryse1, Bénédicte Dubois1,2
1Laboratory for Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 bus 1022, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with both genetic variants and environmental factors involved in disease susceptibility. The main environmental risk factors associated with MS in observational studies include obesity, vitamin D deficiency, Epstein-Barr virus infection and smoking. As modifying these environmental and lifestyle factors may enable prevention, it is important to pinpoint causal links between these factors and MS. Leveraging genetics through the Mendelian randomization (MR) paradigm is an elegant way to inform prevention strategies in MS. In this review, we summarize MR studies regarding the impact of environmental factors on MS susceptibility, thereby paying attention to quality criteria which will aid readers in interpreting any MR studies. We draw parallels and differences with observational studies and randomized controlled trials and look forward to the challenges that such work presents going forward.
Related Concept Videos
Mismatch Repair
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Gene-Environment Interactions
Confounding in Epidemiological Studies
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

