A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is likely the primary cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). This progressive disease, affecting 2.8 million people worldwide with no definitive cure, has long puzzled scientists searching for its origin. The study, published in the journal Science, establishes a compelling link between EBV and MS, offering a potential avenue for prevention and cure.
Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan School and senior author of the study, emphasized the difficulty in establishing causality due to EBV infecting approximately 95% of adults, while MS remains a relatively rare disease. The study, conducted among over 10 million young adults in the U.S. military, identified 955 individuals diagnosed with MS during their active-duty period. The research analyzed serum samples, revealing a 32-fold increase in the risk of MS after EBV infection, unmatched by other viruses.
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