First Genetic Marker for Multiple Sclerosis Severity Identified A groundbreaking study encompassing over 22,000 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has unearthed the first genetic variant that correlates with a faster progression of the disease. This acceleration can profoundly affect patients, dep
Researchers have discovered the first genetic variant linked with faster progression of multiple sclerosis , which may require patients to use walking aids nearly four years earlier.
The work was the result of a large international collaboration of more than 70 institutions from around the world, led by researchers from UCSF and the University of Cambridge . Previous studies have shown that MS susceptibility, or risk, stems in large part from dysfunction in the immune system, and some of this dysfunction can be treated, slowing down the disease. But, explained Baranzini, “these risk factors don’t explain why, ten years after diagnosis, some MS patients are in wheelchairs while others continue to run marathons.”
“Although it seems obvious that your brain’s resilience to injury would determine the severity of a disease like MS, this new study has pointed us towards the key processes that underlie this resilience,” Sawcer said.To validate their findings, the researchers further studied the genetics of almost 10,000 additional MS patients. Those with two copies of the identified variant experienced a swifter progression to disability.
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