For World MS Day on 30 May 2024:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. The causes of the disease are still largely unknown. NAKO researchers under the leadership of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the University Medical Centre Heidelberg (UKHD) have now investigated which characteristics in childhood and adolescence could influence the risk of developing the disease. The analysis of information from 204,273 participants in the German National Cohort (NAKO) showed, among other things, that being overweight in adolescence can increase the likelihood of developing MS.
Across Germany, an estimated 337 out of every 100,000 people were affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2019. The nerve disease manifests itself through a wide range of neurological symptoms. Sensory disturbances, visual impairment and muscle paralysis are the most common early signs. According to current research, genetic factors, environmental and lifestyle factors, viral infections and vitamin D deficiency can be responsible for the onset of the autoimmune disease.
“Previous studies have provided evidence that influences from childhood and adolescence can favour the development of MS. In our publication, we analysed data from the NAKO participants from the baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO) on events and health characteristics at a young age. This included birth weight, weight at the age of ten and in adolescence, the type of birth, breastfeeding and the number of siblings,” reports Professor Dr Heiko Becher from the Institute of Global Health at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD). Of the 204,273 people surveyed in this study, 858 had been diagnosed with MS before the NAKO baseline examination.
The researchers found that people who were breastfed as infants later had a reduced risk of MS compared to those who were not breastfed. Being overweight at the age of 18 compared to normal weight was associated with an increased risk of MS. No evidence of an association with MS risk was found for the other factors investigated and gender-specific analyses.
“Our results on the link between obesity in adolescence and an increased risk of MS are consistent with the findings of other researchers. As already observed in previous studies, we also found no effect on MS risk of higher birth weight or higher weight at the age of ten compared to the average weight. This suggests that the timing of obesity could also have an influence on the risk of MS. The physical activity of children and adolescents certainly also plays an important role and should be investigated in more detail in future studies,” says Anja Holz, first author and scientist at the Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology at the UKE.
World MS Day On 30 May 2024, World MS Day draws attention for the 16th time to the 2.8 million people worldwide who live with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. The German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG) provides information, raises awareness independently, dispels prejudices and promotes understanding and support for people with MS and their relatives.