Is Multiple Sclerosis Hereditary?
Disease description:
I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but I want to have a child and am worried about passing it on genetically. Is multiple sclerosis hereditary?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Li Chenyu
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a certain genetic predisposition and is highly likely to be inherited by the next generation. MS is a common demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system and falls under the category of autoimmune diseases. Its onset results from the interplay of multiple factors; however, genetic factors play a particularly close and significant role. First-degree relatives of MS patients have approximately a seven-fold increased risk of developing the disease compared with the general population.
