Novel Gene Conduction Velocity may be Linked to MS, Researchers Say

Scientists have recently discovered that certain novel genes in charge of nerve induction veolicty have a great deal to do with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS).

Statistics show that MS remains the most widespread neurological condition that affects young adults around the world. Typically, most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 with this progressive health problem. 

A team of researchers looked to uncover further connections to the health issue. They found that even minor reduction in conduction velocity could aggravate patients with the disease or mice models bred with an MS-like condition known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). 

"Impairment of nerve conduction is a common feature in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases such as MS. Measurement of evoked potentials (whether visual, motor, or sensory) is widely used for diagnosis and recently also as a prognostic marker for MS," said lead investigator Saleh M. Ibrahim, MD, PhD, of the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology of the University of Lubeck (Germany), in a press release.

"This study represents an interesting example of how minor changes in conduction velocity, which do not result in a clinical phenotype in control populations, may aggravate disease in conditions such as EAE or MS," added Hans Lassmann, MD, of the Center for Brain Research of the Medical University of Vienna (Austria) in an accompanying commentary.

It's estimated that 2.5 million throughout the world suffer from some form of MS. Researchers will continue to work on new and more novel approaches to the health issue. 

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the American Journal of Pathology.