Cigarette smoking and multiple sclerosis (MS): Yet another reason to quit

MS is a chronic neurologic disorder of young adults. Inflammation in the nervous system leads to damage to nerves and myelin (covering of the nerves) in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). More information about MS can be found on the next page. What causes MS?Even after many years of being studied, the cause of MS is still unknown. It is believed that the disease is probably triggered by a combination of factors that are inherited and are present in the environment. The most likely environmental factor seems to be a virus or other source of infection. However, a specific infection has not yet been identified. In this issue of Neurology, Riise and colleagues (2003;61:1122–1124) study another common environmental factor that may play a role in triggering MS: cigarette smoking. An editorial by Franklin and Nelson (2003;61:1032–1034) puts these findings into perspective. Cigarette smoking and the risk for MSThese researchers studied the relationship between cigarette smoking and the risk for developing MS in 22,312 people between the ages of 40 and 47 living in Hordaland, Norway. Information was gathered by using questionnaires and a physical examination. Detailed information about smoking included current and previous smoking history and the age smoking started.There were 87 people who reported having MS. All patients with MS who were current smokers and most who had smoked in the past had started smoking before they developed MS. …