Risks and Frequency of MS around the Globe

Genetics is but a small role which dictates who and who does not develop multiple sclerosis (MS). Medical researchers do not have a definitive answer as to the causes but they are closer to understanding why some people develop the disease while others do not. Statistically, multiple sclerosis is rather uncommon in the United States with only about 0.1% of the popular affected.

The United States MS Profile

There is some disparity between what the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) says to what a leading neurology medical journal in regards to the number of MS cases in the United States. The medical is rather conservative with less than 200,000 people afflicted with MS while the NMSS says there is easily more than twice that number. These estimates of course do not take into the account the Americans who are living with undiagnosed MS.

MS Around the World

Global statistics are not reliable when it comes to MS because the disease is so hard to diagnose properly. This is because the symptoms of the disease can often be interpreted as other conditions for years before an accurate diagnosis. However, conservative estimates speculate at almost three million people worldwide.

Gender, Age and Family Indicators

While there are some men who develop multiple sclerosis, there is double to triple the odds of women developing the disease. The predominant theory behind this boils down to hormones – women have bigger hormonal fluctuations with menstruation, menopause and pregnancy. There seems to be a direct correlation between hormones and multiple sclerosis and medical researchers are still trying to find it.

If a family member has the disease, like a sibling or parent, you could have a 1% chance of developing MS. However, with an identical twin that has it, your risk is at 25%! And as far as age is concerned, the average age range of when MS is first diagnosed is anywhere from age 20 to age 50 although there have been cases of teens getting the disease as well as seniors.

Geography Factors

Caucasians primarily contract MS although the disease has reared its ugly head with other ethnicities around the world. And, this ethnicity factor can be explained by the fact that regions far away from the equator are the areas primarily afflicted by MS. It seems that Vitamin D which comes from sunlight plays some part in the disease. With the atmosphere clouded by emissions and pollution in areas away from the equator, people are not getting as much Vitamin D from the sun.

There have been some clustering of MS cases around the world but so far no definitive answers have some from studying them. However, there is hope that these clusters will eventually help explain the possible environmental and geographical factors that come into play.

Some experts say that the cases of newly diagnosed MS are rising each year. However, many people feel that with better awareness of the disease as well as improved diagnostic tools available, these factors could easily explain the increase of diagnoses.