- New research explains how the Epstein-Barr virus can contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis
- Researchers say antibodies that fight the virus have also been shown to mistakenly attack proteins in the brain and spinal cord, fueling the progression of MS.
- Researchers intend to expand their work in order to better understand this connection.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults, affecting an estimated
The underlying causes of MS remain elusive. One connection may lie in the interplay between MS and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have further explored this connection, saying there is compelling evidence that antibodies intended to fight EBV can actually fuel the progression of MS.
Their findings were published this week in the academic journal Science.
The underlying causes of MS have been a puzzle for scientists for decades.
“It’s not really clear what’s driving the disease process, what’s keeping it going,” Dr. John Lindsey, a neurologist and interim director of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.
“Compared to the general population, there’s not a noticeable immune system problem in people with MS, so we’re left with the knowledge that it’s an unusual response to whatever stimulus that is making the immune system go off and attack the brain and spinal cord,” he explained.
It’s also difficult to predict the course of the disease, with effects ranging from mild to severe. Lindsey said there’s a large range of outcomes for a person who’s diagnosed.
“Some people will have a very aggressive course and become disabled in a few years, while others will have a more benign course with occasional symptoms but won’t develop any significant disability,” Lindsey said.
The Epstein-Barr…
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