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The Role of Environment and Lifestyle in Determining the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

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Book cover Emerging and Evolving Topics in Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis and Treatments

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 26))

Abstract

MS is a complex disease where both genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease susceptibility. The substantially increased risk of developing MS in relatives of affected individuals gives solid evidence for a genetic base for susceptibility, whereas the modest familial risk, most strikingly demonstrated in the twin studies, is a very strong argument for an important role of lifestyle/environmental factors in determining the risk of MS, sometimes interacting with MS risk genes. Lifestyle factors and environmental exposures are harder to accurately study and quantify than genetic factors. However, it is important to identify these factors since they, as opposed to risk genes, are potentially preventable. We have reviewed the evidence for environmental factors that have been repeatedly shown to influence the risk of MS: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure habits /vitamin D status, and smoking. We have also reviewed a number of additional environmental factors, published in the past 5 years, that have been described to influence MS risk. Independent replication, preferably by a variety of methods, may give still more firm evidence for their involvement.

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this chapter have received MS research grant support from The Swedish research council, The Swedish Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, The Swedish Brain foundation, The AFA foundation, The Swedish foundation for strategic research, and Knut and Alice Wallenbergs Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anna Karin Hedström & Lars Alfredsson

  2. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Neuroimmunology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tomas Olsson

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  1. Anna Karin Hedström
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  2. Tomas Olsson
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  3. Lars Alfredsson
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Correspondence to Anna Karin Hedström .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Victoria University of Wellington School of Biological Sciences, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Anne C. La Flamme

  2. Department of Biochemistry, School of Molecular Sciences La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Melbourne, Australia

    Jacqueline Monique Orian

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Hedström, A.K., Olsson, T., Alfredsson, L. (2015). The Role of Environment and Lifestyle in Determining the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. In: La Flamme, A., Orian, J. (eds) Emerging and Evolving Topics in Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis and Treatments. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2015_372

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