Genetics

Most of what we know about MS genetics explains who is more likely to develop the disease, but far less is known about whether those same genes influence what happens after the first neurological event—who converts to definite MS, who relapses, and who accumulates disability early. This blog post walks through a prospective five-year cohort study that followed people from their first demyelinating episode and tested whether known MS risk variants could also forecast early disease course. While single genetic markers showed only modest effects, combining multiple variants into cumulative “polygenic” scores produced clear risk gradients for both inflammatory activity (conversion/relapse) and disability progression—suggesting that different genetic pathways may shape different dimensions of early MS.