How does it happen?

How does it happen?

The million dollar question really is: how does multiple sclerosis happen? Although Multiple Sclerosis has been recognised as a disease since the mid 1800s, there still is no clear answer to how it all happens. Much research carried out after many theories have been done and float around, the handful that have come out I will discuss below, excluding the many reasons 'suggested' by what I like to call the kitchen/bedroom doctors or professors who have ideas that are extremely absurd as to why the symptoms of multiple sclerosis occur ( a rant shared by many that we shall save for a rainy day!)

Starting with a few disproved theories as to why the condition arises; living with a dog or pet ( I know!), having allergies, experiencing physical trauma ( which was a huge idea that left people with regret or a feeling of blame for their close ones developing the disease) and aspartame (an artificial sweetener used in many diet soft drinks and other foods).

Genes and family history

MS is not directly inherited it's likely that a combination of genes make some people more susceptible to developing MS, but not everyone with this gene combination will develop MS. Genes are only part of the story. When I am asked if there is anyone in my family with MS, I usually reply 'nope, I'm the special one'

Food and diet

Yum, what used to be my favourite topic! The diet of MSERS being what lead to it's onset is another idea, scientists say junk and processed foods are partly to blame for the onset of autoimmune conditions due to the increased intake of sodium. Further research proposed specifically that the increase intake of salt in the diet of those with MS lead to their symptoms being a lot worse. Very difficult for me as I've always been on a bit of a 'seefood' diet, yes ate what I saw if it looked nice!

Smoking

Studies have also suggested that smoking appears to increase someone’s risk of developing MS though not being clear exactly why this is, although one theory is that the chemicals in the cigarette smoke affect the immune system.

Environmental factors

Countries closer to the equator having a very low number of people who have MS. With viruses ( one being the 'Epstein Barr virus, a common childhood virus) being a suggestion but nothing proven. A higher rate in countries like Scotland leaves more confusion with the link to the equator (see picture below).

Vitamin D

Last but not least, the thing that can lead to many problems if we do not have enough of. This so far is proving to be the most likely explanation though we still aren't there yet! For years studies have shown it may have had a huge part to play in MS but what really confused me was that as a young kid, I played out on the streets and parks of my neighborhood, so much so that times in the summer I left home and returned with a different colour skin! Recently a more conclusive study suggested that people who are genetically predisposed to having low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop MS. So perhaps we are all cherry picked to roam the land of MS, so I still take my grandfathers advice of sitting in the garden in the summer to what I call sunbathe, to try and get the D!

As my family are originally from the Asian sub continent, MS was very scarce amongst Asian people, as our bodies perhaps are used to a lot of sunlight compared to the amount we are exposed to in Europe there may be link to the vitamin D issue somewhere there too. Nevertheless, what initially was sought to be a 'white man disease' has now come to people of pretty much all colours, but I take the humorous approach and when people do raise that issue, I say we've obviously been here for too long!

At the current climate, I joke that anybody can come up with something that makes a bit of sense and it easily be believed, as MS is more commonly developed in the early 20s ( you obviously get a few early birds like me!) and predominantly in women, a study published by The Daily Mail (obviously!) suggested that 'morning after pills' increases the risk of developing MS, just to make clear I promise  I have never played around with any drug, especially it being one for a gender I am not! I never was that bad!

This post is obviously long, for the keen readers, the reference articles are posted below:

• http://preventdisease.com/news/13/030713_Scientists-Officially-Link-Processed-Foods-To-Autoimmune-Disease.shtml
• http://guardianlv.com/2014/08/salt-may-affect-progression-of-multiple-sclerosis/
• http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/information-about-ms/causes
• http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-news/2015/08/vitamin-d-link-ms-becoming-clearer 
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2569855/Multiple-sclerosis-linked-contraceptive-pill-Risk-50-higher-women-taken-it.html