MS and the Epstein-Barr virus: Is there a link?

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Courtney_J

Community manager

02/02/2022 at 10:42

Good advisor

Hello everyone,

How are you today? emoticon cute

If you haven't seen the news already, researchers at Harvard University have recently published a study in the journal Science that provides the strongest evidence to date that the Epstein-Barr virus is a trigger for multiple sclerosis!

Using blood samples from more than 10 million military personnel, the research team was able to demonstrate that Epstein-Barr infection precedes both the nervous system damage and the symptoms of MS, and that becoming infected increases the risk for developing MS in susceptible individuals (people with a family history, environment, and/or lifestyle that increases the risk of getting MS).

While the study didn't examine the role of the Epstein-Barr virus in people who already have MS, it gives hope for progress in preventing MS!

What do you think of this news? Do you know if Epstein-Barr played a role in your development of MS?
@casper34‍ @Sandrine‍ @Charlie74‍ @Minstrel10‍ @Mollytora‍ @PinkAbi‍ @Nabiela‍ @Ginger999‍ @TrixiePix‍ @Samtastic666‍ @SharonJ‍ @Pinkfairy‍ @mswarriorketomum‍ @Elisha‍ @Maisee‍ @Delphina‍ @Towjole‍ @DavidCompton‍ @MJ1183‍ @JoMcGowa*‍ @Raynar13‍ @Barvic‍ @Nigldr‍ @Jax1980‍

Take care,
Courtney

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Madmax1

24/02/2022 at 19:49

Good advisor

Wow I'm just wondering what lifestyles they mean and there is no family history of MS I'm from a big family I'm the youngest sibling so why have I got MS and no other family member (for which I'm grateful of) have not ?

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MS and the Epstein-Barr virus: Is there a link? https://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/multiple-sclerosis/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/ms-and-the-epsteinbarr-virus-is-there-a-link-4517 2022-02-24 19:49:02

cwright17

23/05/2022 at 12:26

Good advisor

Ho Courtney, I have seen this study linking EBV as a possible cause for MS, but no one else in my family, who have lived with me for a long time, have got MS, or even caught EBV. I don't believe I have ever had EBV, so I don't think it's the cause.

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Charlotte Hargreaves-Wright (he's also double barrelled his name so he can be "Wright" half the time)

cwright17

01/06/2022 at 09:29

Good advisor

My mum's told me, every time I get an illness, it doesn't affect me. I just pass it on to other close family members. It's just that when I do I get really ill from it. No one else in my family have gone on to develop MS, and I don't think anyone else has caught EBV. The only person I know of who has an autoimmune condition is my mum, and it's Graves Disease. She developed symptoms in '06, right after my younger brother was born. She was treated with radioactive iodine twice, and then a parathyroidectomy a few years back. I agree with her, I may have had EBV when I was younger, but I did not have any symptoms. Neither did my family 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

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Charlotte Hargreaves-Wright (he's also double barrelled his name so he can be "Wright" half the time)