Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about how the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) can trigger multiple sclerosis (MS). Many viral infections have been shown to trigger autoimmune diseases, but the strong correlation between EBV and MS is astounding. Infectious mononucleosis, or mono, is the typical presentation when people think about an EBV infection; however, many people have been exposed to EBV without the major fatigue symptoms that come with mono. Multiple Sclerosis can be a debilitating disease due to the autoimmune attack on myelin in the central nervous system, which wraps about neuron’s axons to improve efficient connections between brain areas. The study discussed shows a 32-fold increase in MS risk after becoming positive for EBV infection. Check out the video for more in depth information on how EBV can trigger MS!
Bjornevik K, Cortese M, Healy BC, Kuhle J, Mina MJ, Leng Y, Elledge SJ, Niebuhr DW, Scher AI, Munger KL, Ascherio A. Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis. Science. 2022 Jan 21;375(6578):296-301.
