Isn't there a large genetic component to the condition too? I thought it was predominately found in people of Northwestern European decent. I guess, it would be a perfect cocktail with EB virus + the right genes?
I have MS, PPMS (10-15%) no relapses and mildly progressing. Not a bad situation now, but no one knows the rate of progression.
My doctors tell me no genetic component and the Northwester EU is likely from lack of vitamin D. The closer you are to the poles the more likely you are to get it.
The "perfect cocktail" theory is the current thinking around EBV but, it was current thinking 20 years ago and fell out of favor. This is why dealing with MS has been so hard. We don't know what actually causes the condition.
MS is more common the further from the equator you are. That applies to Northwestern Europeans. This does not apply to descendants who move closer to the equator. In short, the link between ethnicity and MS is not well understood at all. The only genetic factor that seems to be well understood is that MS is more than 2x more common in women than men.
