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Does exposure to metals have any affect on/with MS?

A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
Spring Hill, TN

I was dx'd with R/R MS almost 28 yrs ago and haven't had a relapse in over 10 years. I went from Betaseron (10+yrs) to Gelenya (since). I was thinking of my childhood/early adult life (I'm 57 male) and have been around heavy metals pretty much my entire life from playing with mercury to playing with/handling lead (shooting sports/reloading my own ammo, etc). I paid over $500 to have my urine checked for heavy metals and the test showed a VERY high level of certain metals including Uranium (more… read more

February 23
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Does exposure to metals affect MS?

The research on heavy metals and MS is limited and unclear. Clusters of MS cases have been reported in areas with increased heavy metals in the environment, but it's uncertain whether heavy metal exposure actually causes MS.

What we do know is that heavy metal exposure can cause Show Full Answer

Does exposure to metals affect MS?

The research on heavy metals and MS is limited and unclear. Clusters of MS cases have been reported in areas with increased heavy metals in the environment, but it's uncertain whether heavy metal exposure actually causes MS.

What we do know is that heavy metal exposure can cause neurological symptoms that look similar to MS symptoms. This similarity can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis if someone isn't properly evaluated by a neurologist.

Your extensive history with various metals throughout your life is understandable to wonder about, especially given your military service and hobbies. However, the current research hasn't established a clear causal link between heavy metal exposure and MS development.

The strongest environmental risk factors that have been identified for MS include:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection
- Smoking
- Low vitamin D levels
- Obesity during adolescence/young adulthood
- Geographic location (distance from the equator)

It's worth noting that MS is believed to result from multiple factors working together - a combination of genetic susceptibility and various environmental exposures. No single trigger typically causes MS on its own.

Given your high metal levels and concerns, this would be an excellent topic to discuss with your neurologist, who can help you understand what these findings might mean for your specific situation.

February 23

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