Study Finds New Evidence Linking Virus to Multiple Sclerosis
2022-01-22
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1Researchers have found more evidence that one of the world's most common viruses may be linked to the disease multiple sclerosis.
2MS causes the body's own immune system to mistakenly attack nerve cells.
3It destroys the protective material that covers nerve tissue.
4The Epstein-Barr virus has long been suspected of playing a part in development of MS.
5But a connection is hard to prove because just about everybody gets infected with Epstein-Barr but few develop MS.
6Last week, Harvard researchers reported one of the largest studies yet to support the possible link between the virus and MS.
7They studied a supply of blood samples from usual medical tests on more than 10 million members of the American military.
8The samples cover a period from 1993 to 2013.
9The scientists searched the samples for antibodies signaling viral infection.
10They found that the risk of MS increased by 32 times following Epstein-Barr infection.
11Only 5.3 percent of the sampled group were free of signs of the virus when they joined the military.
12The researchers compared 801 MS cases found later over the 20-year period with 1,566 service members who never got MS.
13Only one of the MS patients had no evidence of the Epstein-Barr virus before their MS diagnosis.
14And the researchers found no evidence that other viral infections were involved.
15The findings "strongly suggest" that Epstein-Barr infection is "a cause and not a consequence of MS," study leader Alberto Ascherio and his team reported in the publication Science.
16Dr. Ascherio is with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
17The virus appears to be "the initial trigger," Dr. William H. Robinson and Dr. Lawrence Steinman of Stanford University wrote in a report alongside the study.
18Epstein-Barr is best known for causing "mono," or infectious mononucleosis, in teenagers and young adults.
19The virus remains inactive in the body after infection and has been linked to later development of some autoimmune diseases, including MS, and rare cancers.
20It is not clear why. Some scientists think the body is tricked by viral proteins that look very much like nerve proteins.
21Whatever the cause may be, the new study is "the strongest evidence to date that Epstein-Barr contributes to cause MS," said Mark Allegretta.
22He is vice president for research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
23He added that the evidence, "opens the door to potentially prevent MS by preventing Epstein-Barr infection."
24I'm Caty Weaver.
1Researchers have found more evidence that one of the world's most common viruses may be linked to the disease multiple sclerosis. 2MS causes the body's own immune system to mistakenly attack nerve cells. It destroys the protective material that covers nerve tissue. 3The Epstein-Barr virus has long been suspected of playing a part in development of MS. But a connection is hard to prove because just about everybody gets infected with Epstein-Barr but few develop MS. 4Last week, Harvard researchers reported one of the largest studies yet to support the possible link between the virus and MS. They studied a supply of blood samples from usual medical tests on more than 10 million members of the American military. The samples cover a period from 1993 to 2013. The scientists searched the samples for antibodies signaling viral infection. 5They found that the risk of MS increased by 32 times following Epstein-Barr infection. 6Only 5.3 percent of the sampled group were free of signs of the virus when they joined the military. The researchers compared 801 MS cases found later over the 20-year period with 1,566 service members who never got MS. 7Only one of the MS patients had no evidence of the Epstein-Barr virus before their MS diagnosis. And the researchers found no evidence that other viral infections were involved. 8The findings "strongly suggest" that Epstein-Barr infection is "a cause and not a consequence of MS," study leader Alberto Ascherio and his team reported in the publication Science. Dr. Ascherio is with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 9The virus appears to be "the initial trigger," Dr. William H. Robinson and Dr. Lawrence Steinman of Stanford University wrote in a report alongside the study. 10Epstein-Barr is best known for causing "mono," or infectious mononucleosis, in teenagers and young adults. The virus remains inactive in the body after infection and has been linked to later development of some autoimmune diseases, including MS, and rare cancers. 11It is not clear why. Some scientists think the body is tricked by viral proteins that look very much like nerve proteins. 12Whatever the cause may be, the new study is "the strongest evidence to date that Epstein-Barr contributes to cause MS," said Mark Allegretta. He is vice president for research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 13He added that the evidence, "opens the door to potentially prevent MS by preventing Epstein-Barr infection." 14I'm Caty Weaver. 15The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. 16____________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18sample -n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from 19diagnosis -n. the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something 20consequence -n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions 21initial -adj. occurring at the beginning of something 22trigger -n. something that causes something else to happen 23contribute -v. to help to cause something to happen 24potentially -adj. in a possible state or condition - used to describe the possible results or effects of something