Lesser Known Facts about MS

Here are some interesting facts about the disease we struggle with based on internet research.

• First Case diagnosed in 1849
• The earliest known case of MS dates back to 14th century Holland.
• MS typically skips a generation rather than seeing a gene passed from parent to child or sometimes it is seen in the extended family instead.  It is not thought of as inherited though a child or sibling could see a 1 in 100 chance of developing the disease a twin has a 33 percent chance of developing the disease.  The average person in the US has a 1 in 1000 chance of developing the disease.
• MS attacks the central nervous system rather than the muscles themselves
• Most MS patients will experience a normal life expectancy
• One MS patient may experience symptoms quite unlike another MS patient as it affects people differently
• It is suspected that the large amounts of exposure to Vitamin D by way of the sun is the reason why Multiple Sclerosis is nearly non-existent in tropical regions
• Twice as many women have MS
• Multiple Sclerosis is thought to be an autoimmune disease but currently debates continue on this subject.
• MS is more common among Caucasians than other races.
• MS is five times more prevalent in the Northern United States, Canada and Northern Europe than in other parts of the world.
• The exact cause of MS is still unknown though it may be caused by a virus
• MS occurs more frequently in higher latitudes