"Unraveling the Genetic Origins of Multiple Sclerosis through Ancient DNA"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Ancient DNA analysis suggests that the higher risk of multiple sclerosis among people of northern European ancestry may be linked to genetic variants introduced by Bronze Age horseback-riding cattle herders who migrated into the region 5,000 years ago. These gene variants, which are known to increase the risk of multiple sclerosis, likely provided an advantage to the herders by protecting them from infections carried by their livestock. The findings shed light on the north-south divide in multiple sclerosis rates in Europe and may help explain the genetic basis of the disease.