More and more, researchers believe that an environmental factor could also trigger the onset of multiple sclerosis.
According to the journal Nature, American researchers are once again putting forth this hypothesis. It does not call into question the genetic factor but they believe that there could be other causes.
Researchers found no genetic difference among three pairs of twins after having their genome sequenced. They found nothing that could explain why only one twin was affected by the disease and the other remained in perfect health. This occurs in 70-75% of twin cases.
Despite advances in technology, the technique of sequencing genomes is still very young and something might have escaped researchers at this point.
On the other hand, it is unclear yet what could be the environmental factor that triggers the disease. Researchers looked at factors such as lack of vitamin D, smoking, excessive consumption of animal fats, contact with chemical solvents in the workplace.
Some people believe that a viral infection triggers a reaction that leads to the disease.