What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?

Nobody knows the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) - it would appear to be due to a number of factors. MS is a result of a deficiency in the immune system which mistakenly causes the body to attack the myelin sheath which surrounds the nerve fibres. The most popular theory at the moment is that this faulty response is triggered by a viral infection. Other theories include:

• Decreased sunlight exposure. This is because MS is much more prevalent in people who live further away from the equator. It is also suggested that lack of Vitamin D production may be a contributory factor;
• The fact that MS is more common in only children has led some to suggest that less exposure to illness in childhood makes an individual more prone to developing MS:
• Severe stress has been shown to be a factor in one large study in Denmark;
• Others describe MS as an immune response to a chronic infection. Some have suggested that MS may be due to a chronic infection with spirochetal bacteria;
• MS is more common in people with certain tissue types;
• MS is not a hereditary disease, however there is increasing evidence that genetics may play a role in determining someone's susceptiblity to MS.

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