Lauren Parrott

1. Can my family members also "inherit" MS if I have MS?

MS itself cannot be directly inherited as is the case for a single gene disorder (such as cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease). However, a genetic susceptibility ("risk") to develop MS does exist. This is highlighted by the fact that the increased frequency of MS among family members only holds true for family members who share genetic material (DNA).  The risk of MS among family members can be influenced by several factors including gender, ethnicity, the country/location of where one grows up, age, and biological relationship (percentage of DNA sharing) to other family members with MS.

If you are concerned about your risk to develop MS because you have other family members with MS, or you have MS and are worried about the risk of passing it on, please contact genetic counseling services in your area for more information:

http://www.nsgc.org, and www.ccmg-ccgm.org

2. If my relative also develops MS, will he or she have the same clinical course of the disease that I do?

The clinical course of MS does not appear to "run true" in families if more than one family member is affected. Thus, if you develop MS, you cannont assume that you will have the same disease course as your mother, sister, or other relative with MS.

3. Can you predict, in advance of any signs or symptoms, who is destined to develop MS in the future?

There are no definitive biomarkers for MS. A biomarker can be "anatomic, physiologic, biochemical, or molecular parameters associated with presence and severity of specific disease states". Hence the word susceptibility is used with repspect to MS risk rather than "causal".

4. Can MS be prevented?

There is no way to prevent MS. No fault can be assigned if someone develops MS. There are no clear protective preventive measures that can be taken.