Study suggests MS activity could change with the seasons

31 Aug 2010

A recently published American study has found that the appearance of lesions on brain scans in people with MS was higher from March – August compared to scans taken in winter months.

What did the study show?
The study looked at 44 people from Boston with MS from 1991 to 1993 and compared their brain scans to weather data for the same location and period. None of the participants were on medication.

The study found that activity of MS (lesions seen on MRI brain scans) correlated with season and temperature. People were two to three times more likely to have new lesions in the months between March and August than in the winter months.

What does this mean for people with MS?

It’s important to note the study failed to acknowledge other environmental factors such as vitamin D levels in the participants, lifestyle factors and exposure to viruses that may increase MS activity. These factors can fluctuate according to the seasons and may have complicated the data.

This was a small trial, so it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions on the relevance of seasons and temperature to MS activity.

What does the MS Society say?

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, research communications officer for the MS Society, said: “This small study is intriguing and, if validated in larger studies, has the potential to influence the way clinical trials are designed. We need to see studies looking at more people before we can draw firm conclusions.”