Causes And Risk Factors Linked To Multiple Sclerosis

Certain Infections

Infectious agents are known to be a key factor in triggering an individual to develop multiple sclerosis. While viral infections of certain types are never a single factor that results in the development of multiple sclerosis, they do play a considerable role in triggering it. Epstein-Barr virus is the virus in humans that causes mononucleosis. In infectious mononucleosis patients, this virus activates the HERV-W/MSRV retrovirus. This activation is associated with multiple sclerosis development even though the mechanism of how is unclear. Infection with the human herpesvirus 6 may cause an individual to be at an increased risk of triggering multiple sclerosis. The role of HHV-6 in multiple sclerosis is associated with an increase in the HHV-6 antibodies produced by the affected individual's immune system. The relations between viral infections and multiple sclerosis are often found when the proteins present in the cerebral spinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients are the same as those found in individuals with certain nervous system diseases known to be caused by specific viruses.