Obesity has been linked to many negative health consequences, including neurological problems. For example, previous research has shown a link between excess weight and more severe symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Proving that obesity causes these symptoms, however, remained out of reach. This was because other factors, like diet, exercise and access to healthcare could also have played a role in making the symptoms worse, rather than obesity itself. Also, it was unclear if obesity caused the symptoms of MS or the reverse.
To clarify the link between obesity and MS symptoms, clinician-scientist Dr. Adil Harroud at The Neuro performed mathematical modeling on genetic data from more than 12,500 MS patients. He measured how the symptoms of people with genetic predisposition to obesity compared to those without it. Focusing on the genetics of each patient rather than their body mass index score would reduce the chance that other factors may have been influencing their symptom severity. It would also establish a clear cause-effect relationship, because genetics are established at birth, before other factors could play a role.
Dr. Harroud found that those in the sample with genetic predisposition to higher body mass index were more likely to experience severe effects of MS, and that obesity was likely the cause of this severity.
鈥淭hese findings highlight that obesity not only worsens MS severity but is also a potentially modifiable risk factor,鈥� said Dr. Harroud. 鈥淏y addressing obesity through weight management or targeted interventions, we could potentially reduce the burden of disability in people living with MS.鈥�
His findings in the journal Annals of Neurology on Oct. 21 2024.
