# Université de Montréal announces discovery about MS

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universite-de-montreal-announces-discovery-about-ms/843400>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 14, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universite-de-montreal-announces-discovery-about-ms/843400 "2019-11-14T05:03:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universite-de-montreal-announces-discovery-about-ms/843400/1 "2019-11-14T05:03:13Z")

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U de M researchers have announced they’ve found a molecule which may slow the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, without the side effects of increased infections and higher cancer risks that current treatments have.

Sounds rather tentative, but it’s focussed on the mechanism which allows the individual’s own auto-immune system to attack brain cells, causing the disease.

> **[UdeM researchers find molecule to block multiple sclerosis progression](https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/udem-researchers-find-molecule-to-block-multiple-sclerosis-progression/amp)**
>
> "If we can mitigate (the side effects) of the treatments we have, we'll be finally close to a cure," Dr. Alexandre Prat said.

If it bears fruit, will be significant for Canadians, since we have one of the highest rates of MS in the world.

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**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universite-de-montreal-announces-discovery-about-ms/843400/2 "2019-11-14T21:20:44Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> …If it bears fruit, will be significant for Canadians, since we have one of the highest rates of MS in the world.

It’s a bit of an aside, but there appears to be [a link between how far from the equator you live and MS prevalence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis#Geography). Far from the equator (generally) = high risk. Weirdly:

> [@](#):
>
> Environmental factors may play a role during childhood, with several studies finding that people who move to a different region of the world before the age of 15 acquire the new region’s risk to MS. If migration takes place after age 15, however, the person retains the risk of their home country. There is some evidence that the effect of moving may still apply to people older than 15.

j