الثلاثاء 24/مارس/2026 – 12:21 م
A fresh study has identified three lifestyle factors linked to an increased risk of death from multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating neurological disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. Currently, there is no cure for MS.
The condition can cause a range of problems, from severe fatigue and dizziness to blurred vision, memory difficulties, and urinary incontinence. Research conducted by Imperial College London and published in the journal JAMA Neurology, examined the rising incidence of MS in England over the past three decades. The study found that cases of the disease have more than doubled across the country between 1990 and 2023.
Lifestyle Factors Increasing Risk of Death from Multiple Sclerosis
According to the study’s findings, smoking and obesity are both associated with a higher likelihood of death among people with MS. Researchers also discovered that individuals were more likely to develop MS if they resided in less deprived areas. Still, people from poorer areas were more likely to die from the disease.
The results indicated that, compared to current smokers with MS, former smokers had a 44 percent lower risk of death, even as non-smokers had a 40 percent lower risk. Individuals with severe obesity were found to have a 63 percent higher risk of death than those with a normal weight who have MS.
Researchers explain that combining effective treatments with targeted smoking cessation and weight management strategies, and prioritizing socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, represents a practical pathway to reducing mortality rates and narrowing persistent disparities in MS outcomes.
