Recent Episodes
A Genetic Origin of MS
In trying to understand why more Northern Europeans get MS, scientists are onto a clue that suggests that this genetic variant was selected to survive disease. About a fifth of northern Europeans with MS have a genetic variant in a HLA gene associated with the immune system. Carrying even one copy of it makes a person about three times more likely to develop MS.
To understand its origins, researchers traced gene variants in MS and found the gene in question among ancient peoples in parts of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. About 5,000 years ago, they migrated west into Northern Europe. There for some reason, these gene variants were passed on maybe because they provided greater survival or reproductive value. Since MS is an autoimmune disease, the overactive immune system may have helped fight off infectious diseases.
The change in lifestyle thousands of years ago from hunter-gatherer to farming along with environmental triggers may help us understand why MS has been more prevalent. MS is thought to be caused by gene to gene as well as environmental to- gene interactions. Evidence has pointed to triggers such as viral infections in people genetically predisposed to MS. With no cure, perhaps by looking into the past, we’ll find answers for a better future prognosis.
We are Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog, at UTMB and Quinnipiac University, where biomedical discoveries shape the future of medicine. For much more and our disclaimer go to medicaldiscoverynews.com or subscribe to our podcast. Sign up for expanded print episodes at www.illuminascicom.com or our podcasts at: Medical Discovery News (buzzsprout.com)
More Information
Prehistoric events might explain European multiple sclerosis risk
An exploration of more than 1,600 ancient Eurasian genomes suggests that genetic changes that increase autoimmune-disease risk in modern Europeans could have protected ancient Europeans from pathogens.
DNA from ancient Europeans reveals surprising multiple sclerosis origins
DNA obtained from the bones and teeth of ancient Europeans who lived up to 34,000 years ago is providing insight into the origin of the often-disabling neurological disease multiple sclerosis, finding that genetic variants that now increase its risk once served to protect people from animal-borne diseases.
Ancient DNA Helps Solve Multiple Sclerosis Mystery in Europe
The secrets of our ancestors might hold the key to why multiple sclerosis (MS) is more common among white, northern Europeans than among Europe's more southern populations.
Elevated genetic risk for multiple sclerosis emerged in steppe pastoralist populations
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is most prevalent in Northern Europe. Although it is known that inherited risk for MS is located within or in close proximity to immune-related genes, it is unknown when, where and how this genetic risk originated1. Here, by using a large ancient genome dataset from the Mesolithic period to the Bronze Age2, along with new Medieval and post-Medieval genomes, we show that the genetic risk for MS rose among pastoralists from the Pontic steppe and was brought into Europe by the Yamnaya-related migration approximately 5,000 years ago.
Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Europe: a systematic review
Despite the breadth of the literature on the epidemiology of MS in Europe, inter-study comparisons are hampered by the lack of standardization. Further research should focus on regions not yet studied and the evaluation of ethnic differences in MS prevalence and incidence.
