New research suggests that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may possess a genetic advantage against Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study, published in the Annals of Neurology, found that people with MS are significantly less likely to show molecular markers associated with Alzheimer’s.
Matthew Brier, the study’s primary author and assistant professor of neurology and radiology, highlighted that this discovery could lead to new avenues in Alzheimer’s treatment research. The study was prompted by Dr. Anne Cross, who observed that her MS patients, despite being at risk of Alzheimer’s due to age and family history, did not develop the disease. She noted, “I couldn’t find a single MS patient of mine who had typical Alzheimer’s disease.”
In the research, 100 MS patients underwent a new FDA-approved blood test that detects amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer’s. When compared to a control group of 300 individuals without MS, the control group exhibited 50% more positive Alzheimer’s tests than the MS group. Additionally, those with very typical MS cases were even less likely to show Alzheimer’s indicators.
While the exact connection between MS and protection against Alzheimer’s remains unknown, the researchers speculate that immune system activity related to MS may reduce the formation of Alzheimer’s-related plaques. Further exploration of this link is planned by Brier and Cross to uncover potential treatments or preventive measures for Alzheimer’s disease.