- - Who has MS? Multiple sclerosis is considered one of the most common diseases of the nervous system throughout the world (Rolak). The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis tries to find a common pattern between the occurrence of multiple sclerosis compared to the variation of people. Such patterns are related to geography, demographics, socioeconomic status, genetics, infectious causes, and patterns of migration. The patterns found in research show that multiple sclerosis focuses on the young adults ranging from 20 to 40 years of age, but MS is almost never initialy found in children under 10 years of age or in an adults over 60 years old (Gertz). MS is also twice as common to occur in women than, men and is more frequently found in Caucasian races, particularly those of northern European ancestry, than any other race. Worldwide, the occurrence of multiple sclerosis observed is considerably higher above the 40ˇ N latitude (NMSS). The highest incidence of MS is between the North 38th and 52nd parallel including the British Isles and Northern Europe as well as the Northern United States and Canada (Miller). Within the United States, the dividing line of rates of incident of MS moves south to the 37th parallel. The MS rate of occurrence for the US below the 37th parallel is 57-78 persons per 100,000 people, and above increases to 110-140 persons per 100,000 people (NMSS). This rate changes dramatically in topical areas where it has been reported that only 1 person per 100,000 people, and within Korea multiple sclerosis occurs at a rate of .05 persons per 100,000 people (Gertz). The odd situation occurs though when a person born into a high risk area for MS moves into a low risk area before puberty, about 15 years of age. The move chages the risk of ther person from the higher rate to the new lower rate of risk to develop multiple sclerosis (NMSS). Studies have used this phenomenon of a newly acquired risk to multiple sclerosis to conclude that a person must be exposed to an environmental agent at a young age to trigger the cause of MS. A syndicated article from the Star-Banner tells that France has stopped Hepatitis B vaccinations of 11-year old school children because of fears the vaccination could be a cause of MS. Genetic research also has noted MS patients carry a similar genetic trait called a genetic marker. If MS is genetic, the disease should carry down the generations, kids, grandkids, and so on. But, over 80% of people with MS donŐt have a first-degree relative with multiple sclerosis (NMSS). Therefore, MS is not directly inherited from parents with MS. Scientists believe that a person is susceptible, not predestined to develop multiple sclerosis, only if that person inherits an unlucky combination of genes from that personŐs parents. As told from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society "É the average person in the United States has about 1 chance in 100 of developing MS, close relatives of people with MS, such as children or siblings, have a 1 in 100 to 1 in 50 chance in developing MS. The identical twin of a person with MS has a 1 in 3 chance of developing the disease" (NMSS).

December 9, 1998