Multiple Sclerosis and its Relationship to Childhood and Pregnancy

​Multiple sclerosis is a complex autoimmune condition that impacts the central nervous system (CNS), comprised of the brain and spinal cord. The immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin cells that provide a sheath-like protective cover for nerves across spine and brain. This interrupts the signals sent by nerves throughout the body and impairs basic bodily functions involving sensation, movement, and vision.

The roots of MS extend to pregnancy and childhood, with pediatric MS starting from early childhood to one’s teens. Around 98 percent of young patients with the condition experience relapsing-remitting MS, which significantly higher than the 84 percent rate among adults with MS. Relapse involves new or returning symptoms that last 24 hours or more, separated by 30 days or more from the previous MS attack, and not related to another illness or infection. While those with pediatric MS typically recover from the neurologic disability faster than adults, they also have a higher risk of cognitive difficulties that can affect school work and other aspects of everyday life.

Interestingly, MS relapse in children may be impacted by factors such as exposure to sunlight. This was explored in a study led by a neurology resident at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Neurology, February 2025). The study spanned 334 children and young adults between the ages of four and 21, all diagnosed with a childhood form of MS.

Across an average of 3.3 years, researchers tracked study participant symptoms, with 62 percent of children experiencing MS relapse. Adjusting for factors such as wearing hats, clothing, and sunscreen, the data demonstrated that children receiving at least a half hour of daily summer sunlight during infancy had one-third less chance of experiencing MS relapse. Similarly, mothers with a similar amount of sunlight exposure during the second trimester of their pregnancy has 32 percent less chance that their child would experienced MS relapse later in life.

The findings link sun exposure in early childhood with long term benefits, when it comes to childhood-onset MS progression. While physicians do not recommend spending excessive time in the sun without protection, greater sun exposure does appear to have positive effects in controlling the disease among children subsequently diagnosed with MS.

Another recent study published in Neurology involved Canadian researchers at universities in Halifax and Winnipeg, and focused on the mental state of mothers with multiple sclerosis. Past studies have shown that women with MS have higher likelihood of anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder, compared with those without MS.

The retrospective cohort study spanned Ontario administrative health data across 894,852 mothers. Of these, 1,745 mothers had MS and 8.4 percent of mothers within the MS cohort experienced mental illness during the prenatal period. Among the common incident conditions were anxiety, depression, psychosis, and substance use. Rates of mental illness among mothers with MS increased substantially to 14.2 percent during the initial year postpartum. While the study does not posit a reason for this significant rise in mental illness among women with MS after child birth, it points to a need for better diagnostic and support services, with a focus on early screening and treatment.

Carmine Fusco

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