Relationships between childhood trauma and multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with inflammatory changes and contribute to morbidity and mortality, including autoimmune diseases.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a significant neurological autoimmune disorder, yet the link between ACEs and MS remains under-researched.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing comprehensive patient care strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on the association between ACEs and MS.
• To examine the relationship between childhood adversity and the prevalence of MS.
• To investigate the connection between ACEs and physical clinical features of MS, including age at onset, relapses, pain, fatigue, and disability.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across five databases, supplemented by manual citation searching.
• Studies were screened by independent reviewers using Rayyan.ai for relevance and quality.
• Included studies were critically appraised for quality and reporting transparency.

Main Results:

• Twelve studies investigated the link between ACEs and MS prevalence or clinical features.
• Ten of the twelve studies found a significant association between ACEs and MS or its clinical manifestations.
• Variations in methodology, including stressor measurement and MS categorization, were noted across studies.

Conclusions:

• The body of literature on ACEs and MS, while limited, is rapidly expanding.
• Current findings suggest a potential association between childhood adversity and MS, warranting cautious interpretation.
• Further research is essential to clarify the complex relationship and establish definitive causal links.