People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis often wonder if it could be inherited. Clarity on this topic is so important because it helps us to know if it is even possible to recover from MS. In this post I will discuss and simplify the science about MS and genetics and share how the science confirms that we can take our health and life back!
There are two schools of thought when it comes to the potential cause of multiple sclerosis:
- Multiple sclerosis is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- MS is an infectious disease caused by parasites and the toxins they produce.
What we know about MS:
- It is the most common disabling neurological disease in adults between the ages of 20 – 40 years.
- MS is an inflammatory disease – our immune system is fighting something. Please WATCH THIS VIDEO to learn more about what causes inflammation in MS.
- It affects women three times more often than men (ratio 3:1).[i]
- MS was first described in 1838 and was officially recognized as a disease in the 1870s.[ii]
- Over 140 years later, we still don’t know what causes MS and there is no cure.
Observational studies show that:
- Siblings of an MS patient can have a higher risk of developing the disease.
- Identical twins can have up to a 30% higher risk of both getting multiple sclerosis.
- Spouses and adopted children have a risk of MS like that of the general population.
- There is a higher prevalence of MS in certain regions of the world. For example, people living in northern Europe and North America show a higher incidence of MS when compared with southern Europeans.
- MS is not as common in many ethnic groups such as Uzbeks, Samis, Turkmen, Kyrgyzis, Kazakhs, native Siberians, North and South Amerindians, Japanese, Chinese, African blacks and New Zealand Maori.[iii]
It is speculated that genetic influences from inherited genes from family members, certain populations and ethnic groups could potentially increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. These are observational studies and have not been proven. Correlation does not equal causation. There could be many other environmental factors within a family, population or ethnic group that could contribute to the risk of multiple sclerosis, for example a family, population or ethnic group could be exposed to similar kinds of parasites.
Gene studies
The first gene associated with a potential higher risk of MS was discovered in 1972.
Since then, gene-wide association studies (GWAS) have resulted in the discovery of more than a hundred additional genes that could possibly be involved in increasing the risk of developing MS.[iv]
It is important to recognize the language “may potentially be involved,” or “could possibly be involved.” These possible associations have not been proven.
Studies have observed that certain genes that code for the immune system could potentially increase the risk for MS. But they also state that these genes may “also be involved in other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal bowel diseases.”[v]
Scientists often assume that the active genes involved with immune function predispose a person to immune dysregulation (autoimmunity) and are not considering the science of epigenetics or the fact that the immune system may actually be doing its job, defending the body from infection.
Epigenetics
There are many factors that determine which genes are turned on and turned off. Our diet, exercise, behaviours and even the microbes that live in our body and the toxins they produce are just a few factors that influence gene expression.
MS is not an inherited disease.
The following is a quote from the National MS Society, “MS is not an inherited disease, meaning it is not a disease that is passed down from generation to generation.”[vi]
After at least 50 years of genetic studies, there is still no solid evidence MS is an inherited disease. This is after tens of thousands (if not millions) of research dollars and decades of research where thousands of people diagnosed with MS have continued to suffer horribly and die early. If MS is an inherited or genetic disease, surely we would have stronger evidence to support this theory.
Why are these studies still being conducted?
Is multiple sclerosis really that mysterious, or are we looking for something that isn’t there: researching a topic that will never give us meaningful information for MS patients?
Are these researchers looking for a cure or just better tests to diagnose patients earlier in order to start treatments with disease modifying drugs earlier?
There is a large and ever-growing body of research that shows that MS patients are in a state of dysbiosis – their microbiome is out of balance. They have too many disease-causing microbes and not enough health-promoting microbes in their body. These infections are parasites which cause MS.
Many MS patients are taking charge of their health and playing an active role in their healthcare, working with health coaches or integrative practitioners to treat these parasites and they are recovering from MS and other diseases. The scientific community should be intrigued by this if they are truly interested in the well-being of MS patients. But that is not the case. The mounds of research and anecdotal recoveries are being ignored because this would disrupt a very lucrative MS industry.
It’s not financially feasible to identify and treat parasites in comparison to prescribing expensive disease modifying maintenance MS drugs to MS patients for years.
It’s always wise to check potential conflicts of interest when reading studies. In one of the studies sited in this post, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neurology received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from 8 pharmaceutical companies and receives research support from many Pharma companies also. A second author of one of the studies in this post has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from 5 pharmaceutical companies.[vii]
That really says it all and explains why we will continue to see very complicated meaningless research done which in no way will lead to a cure for MS. Research will continue to focus on new expensive disease modifying drugs and expensive tests to promote the use of MS drugs earlier.
But hope is not lost! Truthful and relevant scientific studies that are looking for the cause of MS in studying the microbiome in MS patients are finally starting to gain traction. Unfortunately, this research will take years…but you don’t have to wait for a cure.
There are Real Solutions for MS Today!
To restore health, we must focus on treating the cause of inflammation, which are parasites. First, identify the enemy (parasites), then support the body and treat the parasites while following a holistic approach. When parasitic infections are treated effectively, we can overcome inflammation or disease.
If you’re frustrated with the fact that our standard of care STILL doesn’t offer a real solution for treating MS, then click on the link below to watch Pam Bartha’s free masterclass training and discover REAL solutions that have allow Pam and many others to live free from MS symptoms.
CLICK Here to watch Pam’s masterclass training
Or take the Health Blocker Quiz to see if you could have parasite infections
Resources:
[i] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2020.612953/full
[ii] https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/history#first-sightings
[iii] file:///Users/pambartha/Documents/International%20Wellness%20Publishing/Research/MS%20and%20genetics/36-4-319-1-10-20171107.pdf
[iv] file:///Users/pambartha/Documents/International%20Wellness%20Publishing/Research/MS%20and%20genetics/36-4-319-1-10-20171107.pdf
[v] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22284131/
[vi] https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/What-Causes-MS#:~:text=MS%20is%20not%20an%20inherited,about%201%20in%20750%20%2D%201000.
[vii] file:///Users/pambartha/Documents/International%20Wellness%20Publishing/Research/MS%20and%20genetics/36-4-319-1-10-20171107.pdf
Clinically diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28, Pam chose an alternative approach to recovery. Now decades later and still symptom free, she coaches others on how to treat the root cause of chronic disease, using a holistic approach. She can teach you how, too.
Pam is the author of Become a Wellness Champion and founder of Live Disease Free. She is a wellness expert, coach and speaker.
The Live Disease Free Academy has helped hundreds of Wellness Champions in over 15 countries take charge of their health and experience profound improvements in their life.
