Genes, Environment Contribute to Multiple Sclerosis
(HealthDayNews, 9/29/03)

Dr. George Ebers of the University of Oxford in England, and team, studied 370 pairs of Canadian twins affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disorder marked by the destruction of myelin, the fatty tissue that protects nerve fibers. The scientists found that the identical twin of someone with MS is more likely to develop the condition than a fraternal (non-identical) twin, indicating a genetic component. The fact that more females than males develop the disease raises speculation that the mother may pass on a gene related to the disease. On the other hand, the scientists note that, even though identical twins share the same genetic makeup, the chance that the second twin will develop the condition is less than one-third, indicating that something more than genes is at work. The investigators, therefore, conclude that both genetic and environmental influences contribute to the onset of the disease.