Harvard researchers have provided strong evidence linking the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease affecting 2.8 million globally. Their study shows a 32-fold increase in MS risk following EBV infection. This breakthrough suggests potential prevention and cure strategies through targeting EBV.
Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease that affects 2.8 million people worldwide and for which there is no definitive cure, is likely caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers.
Their findings were published online in Science on January 13, 2022.
“The hypothesis that EBV causes MS has been investigated by our group and others for several years, but this is the first study providing compelling evidence of causality,” said Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan School and senior author of the study. “This is a big step because it suggests that most MS cases could be prevented by stopping EBV infection, and that targeting EBV could lead to the discovery of a cure for MS.”
MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin sheaths protecting neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Its cause is not known, yet one of the top suspects is EBV, a herpes virus that can cause infectious mononucleosis and establishes a latent, lifelong infection of the host. Establishing a causal relationship between the virus and the disease has been difficult because EBV infects approximately 95% of adults, MS is a relatively rare disease, and the onset of MS symptoms begins about ten years after EBV infection. To determine the connection between EBV and MS, the researchers conducted a study among more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the U.S. military and identified 955 who were diagnosed with MS during their period of service.
EBV Infection Increases MS Risk Dramatically
The team analyzed serum samples taken biennially by the military and determined the soldiers’ EBV status at the time of the first sample and the relationship between EBV infection and MS onset during the period of active duty. In this cohort, the risk of MS increased 32-fold after infection with EBV but was unchanged after infection with other viruses. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of the nerve degeneration typical in MS, increased only after EBV infection. The findings cannot be explained by any known risk factor for MS and suggest EBV as the leading cause of MS.
Ascherio says that the delay between EBV infection and the onset of MS may be partially due to the disease’s symptoms being undetected during the earliest stages and partially due to the evolving relationship between EBV and the host’s immune system, which is repeatedly stimulated whenever latent virus reactivates.
“Currently there is no way to effectively prevent or treat EBV infection, but an EBV vaccine or targeting the virus with EBV-specific antiviral drugs could ultimately prevent or cure MS,” said Ascherio.
Reference: “Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis” by Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Brian C. Healy, Jens Kuhle, Michael J. Mina, Yumei Leng, Stephen J. Elledge, David W. Niebuhr, Ann I. Scher, Kassandra L. Munger and Alberto Ascherio, 13 January 2022, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.abj8222
Other Harvard Chan School researchers who contributed to this study include Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Michael Mina, and Kassandra Munger.
Funding for this study came the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NS046635, NS042194, and NS103891), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (PP-1912-35234), the German Research Foundation (CO 2129/ 1-1), the National Institutes of Health (DP5- OD028145), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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4 Comments
The flip side of the EBV CAUSAL “supposition”: WHATEVER it is that is causing whatever MS is, there “seems” to be a link with the first “batch” of Polio vaccines introduced in the 1950s; which SOME ALLEGE, was contaminated with a long-term incubation period (2+DECADES) herpes-“type” PATHOGEN. Indeed, there is a cluster of cases among that age group. ALLEGEDLY, deep frozen samples of this PM vaccine were tested early in the New Millennium and this contaminant was discovered, the assay technology having been quite advanced in the 50 years since the first vaccines were administered.
IDK… however, I DO remember when Guillain Barr was a catch-all for auto-immune disorders, many of which had MS-type etiologies. In-kind, Epstein Barr is identified as “the LIKELY CAUSE” of MS: An “educated” guess, but a guess, nonetheless.
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I think the sexual revolution of the 70’s is most likely the reason a herpes “type” pathogen infected people from that age group.
I was diagnosed in 1996, before symptoms started. I am a pianist, suddenly unable to open my hands wide enough to get 8 keys. Nobody in my family had MS, nor my grandparents. Last year a cousin younger than me had MS, she is 40. I have primary progressive MS. I do not walk for the last 18 years, I was born in 1962. I have had 6 strokes and 1 heart attack.The Rebif (beta-1a) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. After roughly five unending years of trauma in the family my MS developed into progressive. There have been many changes in the last 3 to 4 years. Many falls, many fractured bones, and three moves all in five years. I have gone downhill. Considerably. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, My care provider Dr Miller introduced me to Kycuyu Health Clinic & their MS herbal treatment.
EBV has one intriguing pathophysiological activity to survive it blocks VDR , Vitamin D receptors, in that way inducing partly immunodeficiency. To overcome this prof Cicero Coimbra treats MS successfully by using potentially toxic doses of Vitamin D.