MS linked to gut microbiome changes, study finds

A recent study from Yale has uncovered notable differences in the gut microbiomes of people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to those without the condition.

Researchers found that certain gut bacteria were present in significantly different amounts in people with MS. They also discovered that individuals with MS had fewer bacteria coated with an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA), which plays a key role in gut health. IgA is produced by immune cells in the soft tissue lining the intestines and helps the body remove specific bacteria by binding to them.

“The fact that fewer bacteria were coated with IgA in patients with MS suggests that there is perhaps a fundamental disconnect going on with the host-microbe interactions,” explained Dr Erin Longbrake, associate professor of neurology and lead researcher of the study.

While the exact cause of MS remains unknown, growing evidence points to environmental risk factors like poor diet and smoking playing a role in the disease’s development. This makes the gut microbiome a promising area for further research into how MS may begin and progress.