MS Queensland

Genes and other environmental factors are likely to influence MS susceptibility, according to a new study.

One of the environmental factors that has been implicated in MS and other autoimmune disease, such as type 1 diabetes, is vitamin D deficiency, in which patients have lower levels of vitamin D in blood than people without MS.

This study suggests that active vitamin D increases the suppressive function of regulatory immune cells. The MSRA-funded Australian and New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (ANZgene) also published evidence to suggest that the region in which CYP27B1 sits is associated with MS susceptibility.

Both sets of results lend further to the role of vitamin D in MS.

Soure: MSRA

Debbie Smart was preparing to relocate to Lesotho, Africa, in June 2005 when she experienced sudden paralysis and loss of sensation from the neck down. This was found to be the result of a neurological lesion and she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Her plans of moving to the tiny nation of Lesotho in the continent’s south to work with her husband in aid and development hung in the balance. Undeterred by her diagnosis, Debbie continued planning.

The winter issue of our quarterly magazine MS Life is out now, jam packed full of news and information for people with MS, their families and carers.

 You can download a PDF version from our website.