Multiple Sclerosis Research Paper

Words: 755
Pages: 4

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that impacts the central nervous system. A major cause for anxiety is that the exact cause of the disease is not known. However, current research is mainly focusing on four factors that appear to be instrumental in causing this disease. They are environmental, viral, genetic and immunologic factors.
Research in epidemiology has shown that people, who live away from the equator, appear to have this disease more than people who live close to the equator. This causes scientists to think that a lack of vitamin D may be a contributor to this disease. People who reside close to the equator are exposed to a higher amount of sunlight which stimulates the body to produce more vitamin D. Given that
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The viruses that are being examined are human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), measles virus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). There is ample evidence to show that there is a higher risk of autoimmune diseases, associated with EBV, especially multiple sclerosis. Even though links have established between the two, and EBV has been found in everyone who has had multiple sclerosis so far, more research needs to confirm this finding. Once an infection of EBV occurs, the person carries the virus always, even though it may be in a dormant condition. EBV is a contagious disease and can spread through saliva, blood and sexual contact. Therefore, a research question and project could involve investigating whether the Epstein bar virus is responsible for multiple sclerosis.
Genetic factors also appear to play an important role in multiple sclerosis. The chances of getting this disease are higher if a parent or relative has it, because it makes the person more susceptible to having a reaction with specific environmental agents, triggering an autoimmune response. More research in this area is being conducted. Therefore, a research question and project could involve investigating how much the role of genetics plays in causing the onset of multiple