Signs of deadly brain disease that cripples sufferers appear YEARS before condition is

Scientists have determined for the first time that a devastating neurological disorder begins showing signs of manifestation years before previously believed, marking a breakthrough in research into the disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks myelin sheaths, the protective coverings, that encase nerves, leading to progressive disability, mobility problems, brain lesions, cognitive impairment and more debilitating symptoms.

For the first time, the California research team’s study outlined the precise sequence of events in the body that triggers attacks on the nervous system by measuring debris from these attacks in a person’s blood.

The researchers identified an array of proteins that begin to spread about seven years before a person experiences any symptoms of MS, which include numbness or tingling in the limbs, weakness, loss of vision, dizziness and fatigue. 

These trigger a cascade of events that eventually lead to diagnosis.

Altogether, the team identified 50 proteins that signal the progression of the disease and submitted a patent application for a diagnostic blood test using the top 21 of them. 

Dr Ahmed Abdelhak, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco and co-lead author of the paper, said in a statement: ‘We think our work opens numerous opportunities for diagnosing, monitoring, and possibly treating MS.’

MS is not curable, and there is no known way to reverse the autoimmune disorder, but treatments are available to manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve quality of life, including drugs that suppress the immune system, muscle relaxants and pain relievers.

And a blood test to potentially catch signs of the disease before it’s progressed means treatment can begin earlier.  

Actress Christina Applegate was diagnosed with MS in 2021. She has been candid about her health and how she is doing. Mobility problems have led her to walk with a cane

An estimated one million Americans are afflicted with MS, with women more likely to suffer from it than men. 

Female sex hormones have been implicated in the development and progression of MS. Estrogen may have a protective effect in early stages, while progesterone may increase inflammation later in the disease.

Researchers analyzed more than 5,000 proteins in blood samples from 134 people with MS, both before and after their diagnosis.

Samples were obtained from the Department of Defense Serum Repository, which stores blood samples from individuals who apply to join the military.

The samples are then available for study decades later, by which time some of the people may have developed MS.

Seven years before a person’s diagnosis, they experienced a spike in a protein called MOG, which stands for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and indicates damage to the insulation surrounding the nerves of the nervous system.

A year after the MOG spike appeared, they observed a spike in another protein, neurofilament light chain, which indicates damage to the nerve fibers themselves.

During this time, proteins that orchestrate an immune reaction appeared in the blood.

Dr Ari Green, chief of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology in the UCSF Department of Neurology and senior author of the paper, said: ‘We now know that MS starts way earlier than the clinical onset, creating the real possibility that we could someday prevent MS — or at least use our understanding to protect people from further injury.’

Selma Blair suffers from multiple sclerosis. She is pictured above at the Glamour Women of the Year celebration in 2023

The team’s research appeared in the journal Nature.  

There is currently no known way to prevent MS. The exact cause of MS is unknown but it is believed to be triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

However, researchers believe that identifying risk factors for MS may help open the door to prevention options, such as maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels, managing stress, staying active and adopting a healthy, balanced diet.

MS symptoms often start intermittently and mildly, like a numb hand, blurred vision or unusual fatigue that comes and goes.

However, the disease typically progresses, shifting from these isolated episodes to a more consistent decline in function. Initial symptoms may intensify, or new, more disabling ones can emerge, such as chronic weakness, balance issues, bladder and bowel problems or cognitive changes like memory fog.

This progression can occur in distinct flare-ups or as a slow, steady worsening. Over time, the damage from MS accumulates, often leading to increased physical disability and a direct impact on daily life.

It is not typically fatal, though it can shorten life expectancy. Some complications of MS include respiratory failure, infections such as pneumonia, heart disease, falls and injuries.

Prediagnosis testing could mark a game-changer in the ability to track the early signs of disease and manage the symptoms accordingly, potentially leading to highly effective therapies that could effectively stop disease progression in its tracks.