Multiple Sclerosis thrusts often in the summer
Multiple Sclerosis thrusts often in the summer.
(31.08.2010) American physicians have discovered that the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly seasonal. Thus, MS disease can be much worse in summer than in winter.
In one study, US physicians found that the worsening of the health status of MS patients is more common in the summer than in the winter. From this one can recognize that multiple sclerosis is influenced by the season. Between March and August, the course of the disease worsens much more frequently than in the remaining months.
A total of 44 MS patients participated in one study. During the course of the study, scans of the subjects' brain areas were performed. It was noted that in spring and summer, two to three times more areas of the brain are affected by damage than during the cooler autumn and winter months. According to the scientists, the increase in sunlight is responsible for the disease getting worse. However, precipitation and thunderstorms have no negative effects on the disease. Now further studies are to be carried out in order to find out whether other environmental influences also have an influence on multiple sclerosis.
It is still unclear what causes multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, also known as "encephalomyelitis disseminata," is a chronic and inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. In addition to epilepsy, MS is one of the most common neurological diseases in young adulthood. The disease as such is not curable. Different therapies can only contribute to a reduction and slowing of the progressive disease. It is estimated that around 2.5 million people worldwide are affected by MS. In Germany, around 130,000 people are currently affected. (Sb)