Samantha Benn

December 2nd 2015

COMM79-13
Rosemary Ganley
Multiple Sclerosis Disabling Canadians
(Word Count: 1056)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common diseases of the

nervous system that tends to affect people of all ages; although MS usually
strikes the young adults and women most. (Rolak, 2009) Briefly described,
MS is a white matter disease in the nervous system. The primary lesions of
MS are destruction of myelin sheaths surrounding the axons of neurons with
some injury to the axons themselves (Iezzoni, 2010). Although the cause of
MS is scientifically unknown there happens to be links and patterns to the
cause of the disease. Some factors that are found to increase the risk in
developing MS include genetics, varied viruses and environmental factors.
(Iezzoni, 2010) A recently discovered link to the risk of developing of multiple
sclerosis includes people residing in the Northern regions, where the climate
is cool and where there is a lack of sun exposure. This makes Canadas
population highly susceptible to the development of MS. Overall, researchers
have made significant findings in relation to finding causes, but still are far
away from being able to treat and cure this life altering disease.

Until recently multiple sclerosis has been seen as a hereditary disease.

Researchers are beginning to discover that MS may be inherited through
certain genes that may increase risks, though they are small risks. There are
first, second and third degree relatives of people with MS are at a higher risk
of developing the illness. Children and siblings of an affected person have a
2-5% higher chance of developing MS (WebMD, 2015). The novel,
Biographies of Disease: Multiple Sclerosis has done a study stating, Where
parents pass their genetic traits to their children and siblings share these
genetic factors, provide good evidence that genes play some role at least
in increasing the risks of developing MS. With extensive research and
evidence that is provided it is clear that genetics plays a role in the
development of MS in an individual. It seems that genetics must also work in
contrast with other factors such as environment. (Iezzoni, 2010) If there is a
high concentration of individuals diagnosed with MS in a region, with the
genetic factor involved, patterns will continue if there is an alteration in
environment.
In general, certain ethnic groups have a higher risk of developing
multiple sclerosis than others. Epidemiologists have studied Europe and
North America most extensively, justified by the relatively high frequency of
MS among these northern latitudes (Iezzoni, 2010). The Canadian MS Society
states that the rate of MS in this country is possibly as high as 240 per
100,00 people (CBC, 2008). Canada has been a leader in terms of
diagnosing, treating and working to improve the quality of life for those

Canadians struggling with MS. When examining the rates of MS from a larger
perspective, it is seen that rates of MS increase while moving away from the
equator (Iezzoni, 2010). A study was conducted that revealed that cooler
climate environments takes part in the development of MS. It states that if
young people move from a high-MS region to a low-MS region before the
age of fifteen, then their chances of acquiring MS becomes similar to those of
persons in the low-MS region. The opposite also applies, (Iezzoni, 2010).
Although these patterns have been identified and linked to the development
of MS within individuals, it is still unknown as to why these cool climates
cause an increase in neurodegenerative diseases that attack the brain and
spinal cord.
Lastly, linking the rest of the factors together is the last outcome, and
presumably the most significant pattern discovered is the development of
multiple sclerosis in relation to sunlight exposure and vitamin D absorption.
The relationship between northern latitudes and MS prevalence suggests the
explanation that sunlight exposure provides vitamin D when UV rays come in
contact with skin (Iezzoni, 2010). The hypothesis of whether vitamin D
deficiencies in childhood to teen years increase the risk of developing MS is
currently under investigation. In support to this hypothesis it is proven that
vitamin D can protect us against the disease by strengthening the
neurological and immune system; thus explaining the latitude gradient.
(Iezzoni, 2010) Using a group of 38,000 people around the world, McGill
university provided the evidence needed to support the hypothesis that a

lack of vitamin D causes multiple sclerosis. This is an important finding for

public health since vitamin D deficiencies are so common, especially in
northern climates like Canada, where there is a lack of sun exposure during
the winter season and immensely high rates of MS (McKinnon, 2015) With
this pattern discovered in correlation to MS, the explanation to how a lack of
vitamin D effects the nervous system will likely soon be uncovered.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that has been disabling people for
centuries. MS is a disease developed in the nervous system, it has the
ability to be displayed in a variety of symptoms, from affecting balance and
walking to disrupting eye sight. Recently, researchers have been identifying
possible links to the development of MS. These factors include, an increased
risk if genes are inherited, a variety of viruses and environmental factors and
living in northern latitudes that have a lack of sun exposure. Although there
are several links that have been discovered that have a relationship to the
development of MS, the direct reason as to why the nervous system destroys
it self still remains unknown. There are also many questions in relation to
why some ethnicitys do not develop MS, such as the Inuit and Japanese,
when they resonate in northern latitudes themselves. Regardless of the
amount of research needed to be carried out still, these results have made a
large impact on the pathway to finding a cure.

Bibliography
CBC. (2008, September 19). The Mystery of MS and its Prevalence in Canda.
Retrieved November 20, 2015, from CBC News:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/the-mystery-of-ms-and-itsprevalence-in-canada-1.705793
Iezzoni, L. I. (2010). Biographies of Disease: Multiple Sclerosis. (J. L. Silver,
Ed.) Santa Barbara, California: Greenwoood.
McKinnon, M. (2015, August 27). New Study Confirms Link Between Low
Vitamin D and MS. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from Global nEWS:

http://globalnews.ca/news/2189682/new-study-confirms-link-betweenlow-vitamin-d-and-ms/
Rolak, L. A. (2009). The History of MS. Retrieved from nationalmssociety.org:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/nationalmssociety/media/msnational
files/brochures/brochure-history-of-multiple-sclerosis.pdf
WebMD. (2015). Multiple Sclerosis Health Center. Retrieved November 15,
2015, from http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/multiplesclerosis-causes