What Causes MS?

That's one of the biggest mysteries in medicine.

Scientists have three theories:

Theory 1: Virus Attack

When viruses enter the body, they multiply rapidly inside "body" cells.

Most viruses cause symptoms quickly. Certain slow-acting viruses also reappear later, causing new symptoms. Other slow-acting viruses stay inside the body for months or years before triggering illness.

MS might be caused by some slow-acting viruses, or might be a delayed reaction to a common virus.

Theory 2: Immune Reaction

Our bodies have a built-in defence system which destroys "invaders" like viruses and bacteria.

This defence system can "backfire" and start attacking the body's own cells. This is called an auto-immune reaction.

MS might involve an auto-immune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissue by mistake.

Theory 3: Combination

MS might involve both viruses and immune reaction.

When viruses invade the body, they take over body cells.

The body defence system might become confused because some viruses take over parts of cells - and it might attack both host cells and virus.

Who Gets MS?

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