There’s new evidence that one of the world’s most common viruses may set some people on the path to developing multiple sclerosis (MS).
The potentially disabling disease occurs when immune system cells mistakenly attack the protective coating on nerve fibres, gradually eroding them.
The Epstein-Barr virus, a widespread human herpes virus, has long been suspected of playing a role in development of MS. It’s a connection that’s hard to prove because just about everybody gets infected with Epstein-Barr, usually as kids or young adults — but only a tiny fraction develop MS.
On Thursday, Harvard University researchers reported one of the largest
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