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What are the chances if both parents have MS, of it being hereditary or being passed down to children

A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
Glendale, AZ
March 3, 2025
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Is Multiple Sclerosis Hereditary? 5 Factors That Matter Read Article...
A MyMSTeam Member

Np, there have been multiple genes identified but no one knows if it's one, a combo or its not even one of those. I was a PhD in MS research and nothing has been proven as of yet.

March 4, 2025
A MyMSTeam Member

@TomSiclker. no one can and if they cold it would change everything. All they can give you is the stats but that is even a crapshoot, honestly. Best evidence is twins with same genetics and same environment, one develops MS and the other doesn't. Likely because MS is not a single disease but multiple ones with a similiar pathology and progression.

March 4, 2025
A MyMSTeam Member

My specialist says it’s from the area I grew up in. A lot of people from my home town have Multiple Sclerosis.

March 3, 2025
MyMSTeam

Multiple sclerosis is not directly hereditary - meaning it's not automatically passed down from parents to children. While having parents with MS does increase the risk compared to the general population, it's important to understand that no single gene causes MS.

The general population has less than a 0.5% chance of Show Full Answer

Multiple sclerosis is not directly hereditary - meaning it's not automatically passed down from parents to children. While having parents with MS does increase the risk compared to the general population, it's important to understand that no single gene causes MS.

The general population has less than a 0.5% chance of developing MS (about 3 in 1,000 people). When one parent has MS, the risk for their child increases to about 1 in 67 (approximately 1.5%). Scientists have identified 230 genes that may be linked to MS susceptibility, but it's the combination of genetic and environmental factors that influences whether someone develops MS. Even identical twins, who share 100% of their genetic material, don't have a 100% match in MS occurrence - demonstrating that factors beyond genetics play an important role in developing the condition.

If you have concerns about family planning, it's recommended to discuss this with your healthcare provider who can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation.

March 3, 2025
A MyMSTeam Member

Not hereditary for me. I'm the only one in my family who has MS. My dad's aunt (related by marriage only has MS).

March 6, 2025

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A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
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