People commonly ask doctors; is MS hereditary? This is a popular question coming from individuals who have had family members diagnosed with MS. In short, the answer to ‘Is Multiple Sclerosis hereditary’ is; no. Research has shown genetics to be a small factor in the causation of this autoimmune disease, but it isn’t the only factor involved. Just because a parent or sibling has MS, this doesn’t make MS hereditary and it doesn’t mean you will end up being diagnosed with the disease as well.

Even though MS isn’t considered to be a hereditary disease, a few genetic variations could be at fault for raising the chances of someone developing MS. Additional factors thought to cause MS include those created by the environment and childhood illnesses. Environmental factors such as a lack of vitamin D, severe stress, smoking, and possibly even low levels of uric acid. The …