Is Multiple Sclerosis Inherited? What Families Should Know About MS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that impacts the brain and central nervous system. Symptoms vary widely from person to person, so no two experiences are the same. While there are a variety of treatments and ways to manage symptoms, there is currently no cure for MS.

When a loved one is diagnosed with MS, it’s normal to worry about whether or not the rest of the family is at a higher risk of developing it, too. Knowing the facts can help you plan for the future, know whether you should keep an eye out for symptoms and put your mind at ease by taking away the feeling of the unknown.

In this guide, we’ll explore whether MS is inherited or not, as well as what families should know about the disease.

Can Multiple Sclerosis be inherited?

MS isn’t directly inherited by children of parents with the autoimmune disease. For it to count as an inherited condition, MS would have to be passed between family members in a predictable way – but it’s not. Inherited conditions are usually down to a faulty gene that is passed on from parent to child, and there isn’t one single gene that causes MS.

Instead, over 200 genes have the potential to affect your chances of developing the disease and make you more susceptible to it.

It’s often a worrying time for families of loved ones who are dealing with an MS diagnosis. However, while MS can happen more than once in a family, it’s much more likely that this won’t happen. MS Society reports:

There’s around a 1.5% chance of a child developing MS when one of their parents has it
There’s around a 2.7% chance of someone developing MS if their sibling has it

Most people with MS don’t have a family history of the disease and feel like it appears from nowhere. This means that you don’t automatically need to worry about the rest of the family when one person gets the diagnosis.

The possible causes of MS

No one knows the exact cause of MS, but researchers believe genes, environmental factors and your lifestyle most likely influence it. Certain things in these three aspects of life can contribute to your chances of developing MS.

The role of genes in MS

While MS isn’t directly inherited, your genes do still play a part. Some genes make it more likely that you’ll develop the autoimmune condition, but having those select genes isn’t enough of a deciding factor on its own. Other factors are needed to trigger the disease in people who carry the genes that make them more susceptible to MS.

Research has shown that there are 200 genes in the body that can encourage the development of MS, with each one representing a tiny part of the risk. The more of these genes you carry, the higher your risk increases. It stands to reason that the closer relation you are to your loved one with the disease, the more of these genes you’re likely to carry.

The role of environmental factors in MS

There are fewer reported cases of MS in tropical countries that get lots of sunshine. This is because MS has been linked to a Vitamin D deficiency, and countries further away from the equator get much less sun exposure, which is one of the best sources of Vitamin D available.

MS is relatively common in countries like Britain, North America, Canada, Scandinavia, Southern Australia and New Zealand, while it’s almost unheard of in places like Malaysia or Ecuador. If you live in the same environment as your loved one with MS, you may be at a slightly higher risk of developing it because you’ll be subject to the same amount of sunlight.

The role of lifestyle influences in MS

Studies have shown that several influences in life can contribute to the development of MS. Things like smoking and obesity have been linked to the condition, especially if you’ve been dealing with these influences since you were a child or young adult.

MS causes the immune system to accidentally attack your central nervous system, causing your symptoms. Overweight people often have an overactive immune system, speeding up its ability to attack the body and cause excessive inflammation.

Again, this indicates that if your family shares these lifestyle factors, you may be at a higher risk of developing MS. Smoking studies have found that if you have MS in the family, your risk of developing it through breathing in secondhand smoke is also higher.

What does this all mean for families of loved ones with MS?

The bottom line is that MS isn’t inherited, as there’s no singular gene that’s passed down to trigger the development of MS. However, if your loved one already has the disease, your family may be at a slightly higher risk of developing it as you carry the same genes, perhaps living in the same environment with similar lifestyle factors. However, the risk of multiple people developing MS in one family is still relatively rare when compared to actual inherited conditions, such as certain breast cancers or diabetes.

Your risk of developing MS depends on how closely related you are to your relative who’s already living with it. MS Trust reports that a recent study found that out of 42,000 people in Sweden who had a parent with MS, only 515 (1.2%) had also been diagnosed with the condition. This roughly translates to a 1 in 80 chance of both you and your parents having the condition. Comparably, completely unrelated people have roughly a 1 in 400 chance of developing MS.

Can you be born with MS?

No, you’re not born with MS symptoms, and the disease doesn’t lie dormant in the body until something triggers it. Most people develop MS in their 30s or 40s, although it can develop earlier or later than that. At this current time, there’s no way to tell if you’ll develop MS at a later date in life. You’ll only be diagnosed with it once symptoms have begun appearing.

Symptoms for families to look out for

Hopefully, the knowledge that MS isn’t directly inherited gives families some relief after their loved one has been diagnosed. However, it’s still important to know what you should be looking out for in the future, so you know when to get checked out if you notice anything suspicious.

You might find that you’re more vigilant with signs now that you’ve seen someone you love go through similar symptoms. If you notice anything concerning, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Symptoms of MS may include:

Fatigue
Numbness or tingling
Loss of balance
Stiffness
Muscle spasms
Tremors
Pain
Bladder and bowel problems
Vision issues
Difficulties with memory and thinking
Pain or tightness around the chest or stomach area (known as the MS hug)
Changes in swallowing

It’s important to realise that symptoms of MS often come and go over time. They might be mild for some and more severe for others, or get worse over time. They’ll begin appearing as your immune system attacks the nerves in your brain and spinal cord, which control a lot of the body.

That’s why MS symptoms can appear in most parts of the body, and why everyone’s experience with MS is different.

Important facts about MS

When you’re close to someone with an MS diagnosis, the idea of you or other members of your family developing it can be incredibly daunting. Some people feel better after having all the facts, so here are some of the most important things to remember when dealing with MS:

More than 150,000 people are estimated to have MS in the UK
Around 135 people are diagnosed with MS every week
This disease is nearly three times more common in women than in men
Most people are diagnosed in their 30s to 40s, but it may be found earlier or later
MS isn’t infectious or contagious
MS is the most common condition affecting the central nervous system in young adults
It’s a lifelong condition as there is no current cure, but it’s not a terminal illness
MS can appear in so many different ways, so your experience might be completely different from your loved ones
MS isn’t inherited, but family members may have a slightly higher risk of developing the disease thanks to shared environment and lifestyle influences

Can MS be treated?

Currently, there isn’t a cure for MS. However, there is a wide range of possible treatments that are being used to manage symptoms and help people with MS live a long, fulfilled life. Here are some of the possible treatments to bring up with your loved one’s healthcare professional:

Symptomatic treatments: There are lots of treatments specifically targeting the symptoms of MS, including drug treatments, therapies, self-management techniques and rehabilitation.
Disease-modifying medications: Certain medications may treat the underlying condition of MS, which can reduce how many relapses you have and how severe they are, as well as slow down the build-up of disability over time.
Complementary therapies: These are often used alongside conventional medicine to help improve physical and mental wellbeing while living with MS. Examples include yoga, massage, reflexology and mindfulness.

How Country Cousins can help

At Country Cousins, we understand that living with MS affects many aspects of daily life – for both you and your loved one. Our experienced live-in carers can offer consistent support tailored to your loved one’s needs, helping them live life to the fullest despite their diagnosis.

From helping them with daily chores and hygiene needs to managing medication, our carers are trained to support adults living with MS from the comfort of their own homes. We offer more than just a basic level of care, as we pride ourselves on providing compassion, companionship and comfort to all of our clients.

Whether you need respite care to give you a break from your daily routine as a family carer or round-the-clock live-in care for a loved one, we focus on encouraging independence, safety and enjoyment at home.

Talk to our team today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.