Researchers: Multiple Sclerosis Linked To Birth Month
March 31, 2006 12:25 p.m. EST

Ayinde O. Chase - All Headline News Staff Writer

Miami, FL (AHN) - Researchers have found that in the northern 
hemisphere, being born in May has been tied to an increased risk of 
developing multiple sclerosis later in life, while being born in 
November carries the lowest risk.

Researchers published their findings on bmj.com and suspect that 
complex interactions between genes and the environment before or 
shortly after birth may help to explain this link.

In Canada, significantly fewer people with MS were born in November 
compared with controls.

While in Britain, fewer people with MS had been born in November and 
even more had been born in May.

Adding Danish and Swedish samples to the Canadian and British results 
(over 42,000 people) showed a 13% increase in risk of MS for those 
born in May compared with November and a 19% decreased risk for those 
born in November compared with May.

Researchers found the strongest correlation to their findings in 
evidence from Scotland, where the prevalence of MS is the highest.

The cross section of findings from various places and months seems to 
conclude to researchers the association between month of birth and 
risk of MS in northern countries, but the explanation remains unclear.

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to the sun or seasonal 
variations in a mother's vitamin D levels during pregnancy may have 
an impact on brain development.

Note: On December 10, 2004 the auto-immune list posted the following: