"Uncovering the Ancient Origins of Multiple Sclerosis Risk in Modern Populations"
TL;DR
A study has found that steppe pastoralist populations have an elevated genetic risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease affecting the brain and spinal cord. The research suggests that genetic factors, particularly those associated with steppe ancestry, contribute significantly to the risk of developing MS. The study also indicates that MS risk variants, particularly the HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele, underwent positive selection around 5,000 to 2,000 years ago in steppe populations. This research provides insights into the genetic and evolutionary factors influencing the prevalence of MS in different populations.
Topics:healthhealth-genetics#ancestry#autoimmune-disease#evolutionary-selection#genetic-risk#health-genetics#multiple-sclerosis
- Elevated genetic risk for multiple sclerosis emerged in steppe pastoralist populations Nature.com
- Ancient DNA helps trace multiple sclerosis origins in European descendants The Washington Post
- Ancient Skeletons Give Clues to Modern Medical Mysteries The New York Times
- Ancient human DNA hints at why a modern disease affects so many northern Europeans today The Seattle Times
- You may have a higher risk of MS and other diseases if you're descended from these ancient people Science
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