Identifying and Characterizing Preclinical MS
Yale University
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to try and identify risk factors and biologic changes that suggest that someone may go on to develop multiple sclerosis before a person has shown any symptoms of the disease.
Description
The purpose of this study is to try and learn how to identify multiple sclerosis (MS) before it causes any neurologic symptoms. By the time MS causes symptoms, the disease has often been causing damage under the surface for years. Because early treatment of MS helps prevent long term disability from the disease, the investigators are hypothesizing that if MS could be detected (and treated) before symptoms start, the disease might be preventable. The investigators believe that people who go on to develop MS have changes in their immune systems long before they have symptoms. Some of these chan…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18+ * Having one or more risk factors for multiple sclerosis, including one or more of the below: * Individuals known to have a radiologically isolated syndrome * Individuals with a family history of multiple sclerosis (first degree family member) * Individuals with personal risk factors, which are known to include smoking, obesity, Epstein Barr virus infections, Vitamin D deficiency, genetic risk score Exclusion Criteria: * Currently pregnant * Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or any ongoing, systemic autoimmune disease * Ongoing treatment with immunosuppres…
Interventions
- Otherbiological samples
blood draw, oral swab, optional stool samples, spinal fluid sample, fat biopsy, tonsil biopsy, lymph node tissue sample, MRI
Location
- Yale UniversityNorth Haven, Connecticut