Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Multiple Sclerosis
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterised by inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration of the central nervous system. It affects an estimated 2.8 million individuals worldwide, with marked geographical variation following a north–south gradient in temperate zones, though recent studies reveal rising prevalence in regions historically deemed low risk, such as the Middle East and parts of Asia. Incidence rates typically range from 2 to 10 per 100 000 person-years, and women are affected approximately three times more often than men. The aetiology of MS is multifactorial, involving both genetic susceptibility—most notably HLA-DRB1*15:01 and other major histocompatibility complex alleles—and environmental exposures including Epstein–Barr virus infection, vitamin D deficiency, smoking and obesity during adolescence. Interactions between these genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual risk, as demonstrated by familial clustering and synergistic effects in gene–environment studies. Longitudinal registry data highlight both true epidemiological shifts and improvements in diagnostic detection, with implications for public health planning, early intervention strategies and personalised risk assessment.
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Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Multiple Sclerosis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology and risk factors of multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Incidence: The rate at which new MS cases arise in a specified population over a defined period.
Prevalence: The proportion of individuals in a population living with MS at a given time.
HLA-DRB1*15:01: A variant of the human leucocyte antigen gene strongly linked to MS susceptibility.
Odds Ratio: A statistical measure of the strength of association between an exposure and an outcome.
Relapsing-remitting MS: An MS subtype characterised by acute attacks of neurological dysfunction followed by remission.
Gene–environment interaction: A process whereby genetic predisposition and environmental factors jointly influence disease risk.
References
- Head trauma results in manyfold increased risk of multiple sclerosis in genetically susceptible individuals. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (2024).
- Epidemiology of familial multiple sclerosis in Iran: a national registry-based study. BMC Neurology (2022).
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