New Study Reveals Surprising Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

There are still so many unknowns about MS, which affects about 2.6 to 2.8 million people worldwide.Lightspring/Shutterstock

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks their central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.  It can lead to a wide range of signs and symptoms, from numbness and weakness in the limbs to blurry vision to bowel and bladder problems.

There are still so many unknowns about MS, which affects about 2.6 to 2.8 million people worldwide.  But recent research from Harvard University points to an unexpected potential cause: the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

New Harvard Study Sheds Light on Potential Cause of MS: A Common Herpes Virus

Led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a study recently found a “high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis.”