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Smoking and Obesity Interact to Adversely Affect Disease Progression and Cognitive Performance in Multiple Sclerosis

  • 0Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
European Journal of Neurology +

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February 5, 2025

|

February 5, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Smoking and obesity synergistically worsen multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and cognitive function. These lifestyle factors interact, suggesting shared biological pathways contribute to MS disease advancement.

Area Of Science

  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background

  • Smoking and obesity are known risk factors for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Their combined impact on multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and cognitive function remains understudied.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the synergistic effects of smoking and obesity on disease progression and cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Main Methods

  • A population-based case-control study (Epidemiological Investigation of MS) followed 3336 patients for up to 15 years.
  • Cox regression analyzed clinical disease worsening, disability progression (EDSS), physical worsening (MSIS), and cognitive decline (SDMT).
  • Interaction effects were assessed by combining smoking and obesity status into four categories.

Main Results

  • Significant additive interactions between smoking and obesity were found for clinical disease worsening (AP 0.18) and progression to EDSS 4 (AP 0.18).
  • Synergistic effects were also observed for physical worsening (MSIS-Physical score, AP 0.32) and cognitive decline (SDMT, AP 0.27).

Conclusions

  • Smoking and obesity interact synergistically to accelerate MS progression and impair cognitive function.
  • The identified additive interactions suggest shared biological pathways underlying the combined negative impact on MS outcomes.

Keywords:

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