Multiple sclerosis isn’t inherited, but having a family member with the disease can increase your chance of having the condition. While genetics influences your risk, environmental factors also play a role.
Our genes determine much of who we are as humans. This often applies to health conditions that can seem to run in families.
Sometimes, we inherit these conditions directly from our parents. Other times, our genes play a less direct role, increasing our risk of developing a condition.
Keep reading to learn the role our genes play in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).
You don’t inherit MS in the same way you inherit your eye color or other traits. Still, research suggests you’re more likely to develop MS if you have family members with MS.
A 2023 study looked at more than 25,000 people with MS in Sweden. Researchers found that people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with MS were seven to eight times as likely to also develop MS as people in the broader population.
Even having a second-degree relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece) with MS was enough to double your risk.
While a family history of the condition may increase your risk, the overall risk is still relatively small. The lifetime risk for first-degree relatives is 2% to 4%. However, the rate is much higher for monozygotic (identical) twins.
Overall, only about
Scientists have identified
A mutation in one gene isn’t typically enough to cause MS. The disease is polygenic, meaning it usually results from variations in several genes.
A 2023 study estimated that MS is about 51% due to genetic factors, with the rest due to environmental factors.
Specific genes involved
The gene variant with the strongest link to MS is HLA DRB1*1501.
This gene is part of the
Other genes involved
- other immunity-related genes, like IL2RA, IL17R, and CD24
- VDR and CYP27B1, genes responsible for vitamin D metabolism
- ApoE, a gene involved in brain health that’s closely tied to Alzheimer’s disease
Is genetic testing available for multiple sclerosis?
Because the genetics of MS are so complex, no genetic test can accurately identify your risk.
If you have a family member with MS, your risk may be higher, but you’re still unlikely to develop the condition. There’s no way to predict whether you’ll develop MS, but understanding the environmental risk factors may help.
Certain risk factors may interact with risk genes to make it more likely that you will develop MS. Researchers have linked the
- contracting Epstein-Barr virus
- vitamin D deficiency
- smoking
- obesity
Although there’s no way to ensure you will prevent MS, addressing these risk factors, especially if you have a family history of the condition, may help reduce your risk.
Are you born with multiple sclerosis?
Although you’re born with genes that may increase your risk of developing MS, you’re not born with the disease. Most people start showing symptoms between
How likely am I to get multiple sclerosis if my parents have it?
You’re about 2% likely to develop MS if one of your parents has it. However, if one of your siblings also has MS, your risk is somewhat higher.
Can MS be stopped if caught early?
There’s no cure for MS, but you can slow its progression. Research does link early diagnosis and treatment with better outcomes.
MS isn’t an inherited condition, but having a family member with the condition can increase your risk. Still, genetics only account for about half of the risk of developing MS. Environmental risk factors, like smoking and vitamin D deficiency, also influence MS development.
If you have a family member with MS, talk with a doctor about how it may influence your risk. Knowing more about the risk factors and what symptoms to look for can help improve your outlook if you develop the condition.