Family, today I would like to access your knowledge. DO NOT tell me to look for it online, I would like human interaction.
20+ years ago I was told this was a caucasian northern latitude disease. Now I see a number of non-caucasian (Black) women joining our family. Has anybody noticed this or got an explanation for it. I assume there are a number of non-caucasian men as well.
Thank y6ou,
Royce (your non-causian writer and brother)
I know it is not just Caucasians who get it but it is more common in whites than other skin colors as well as more common the further you get from the equator. That is why they have looked at how vitamin D levels play a part. My thought on that is when they started testing large numbers of people in the general population for vitamin D deficiency it seemed to be a significant percent of those tested were low. With low D levels being so prevalent it is hard to say that is what leads to MS since so many with low D do not have MS. Not sure if Australia went on the same vitamin D level testing kick the US did about 15 years ago. We have now swung back to not testing the general public, according to my PCP when I asked to have my levels checked.
According to my neuro- They have found among people with MS, those with normal D levels do better. They have not proven that having those with MS and low D who take D supplements to get their levels up do better. However, my neuro felt it was worth having me take supplements to get my level up. Just had mine checked and it was at the low end of normal but I haven't been consistent with taking my supplements.
I am not sure if the incidence in non-caucasians is increasing or if it is just being more publicized. There may also be more people being diagnosed with MS since they changed the criteria a few years ago.
That is a very good point that I had not thought of, thanks.
Though the statistical preponderance of MS victims may be Caucasian women, no ethnic or racial group lacks representation. Members of the MS family live on all the inhabited continents.
Before I quit my job there was a young African American guy I worked with who was diagnosed with MS. We were both diagnosed in the same year. His I believe was optic neuritis(sp?). I think it mostly cleared up for him but I thought I was told optic neuritis is more common in African Americans. Could be wrong....
Also it is more common for white women to have relapsing MS but men who get it are more likely to be progressive and more severe. Also, for some reason Copaxone has been found to slow progressive MS in men but not women. My doctor said no one knows why at this point. I'm a progressive white male.
Interesting, I learn something n3ew every day and that is a good thing. it is an interesting disease, different for all of us, thanks.
I read an article-don’t recall for reference-that it has to do with Viking lineage. Not sure if certain % or how many generations removed ? I found it interesting bc they were explorers & who knows who & where they intermingled?
All humans. Unfortunately also many mice, but that’s a different topic 🙃
I always thought it was genetically northen Europeans, but you learn something new
