Researchers uncover 48 new genetic variants associated with multiple sclerosis

Each of the new associations brings nearer an understanding of how multiple sclerosis develops and thereby closer to our ultimate goal of a rational therapy that is both safe and effective at all stages of the disease. Professor Stephen Sawcer Scientists of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC) have identified an additional 48 genetic variants influencing the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This work, for which the University of Cambridge led the UK's contribution, nearly doubles the number of known genetic risk factors and thereby provides additional key insights into the biology of this debilitating neurological condition. The genes implicated by the newly identified associations underline the central role played by the immune system in the development of multiple sclerosis and show substantial overlap with genes known to be involved in other autoimmune diseases. The study, published online yesterday , is the largest investigation of multiple sclerosis genetics to date. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling neurological condition that affects over 2.5 million individuals worldwide. The disease results in patchy inflammation and damage to the central nervous system that causes problems with mobility, balance, sensation and cognition depending on the location of the changes.