New research published in Neurology Queen Mary’s University of London has revealed that people of South Asian, African and European ancestry share many genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS).
This new study is one of the most ancestrally diverse genetic analyzes of MS carried out in the UK. MS affects around 150,000 people in the UK and more than 2 million people worldwide, but most genetic research to date has focused on people of Caucasian European ancestry.
The research team analyzed genetic data from more than 3,000 people with MS and more than 27,000 people without MS (called controls). They looked at participants in the ADAMS project, which specifically recruits MS patients from a variety of backgrounds, as well as cases and controls from the UK Biobank. Researchers have found that genetic variations in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, a key component of the immune system and a long-established factor in MS risk, are strongly associated with MS in people of European ancestry, as well as people of South Asian and African ancestry.
There was also evidence that some inheritance patterns differed between ancestral groups. Researchers have identified genetic mutations that may reduce the risk of MS. This genetic mutation is relatively common in people of South Asian descent but rare in people of European descent. This variant is rare in Europeans, so it may not be detected in studies that focus only on European populations. This finding highlights how ancestry-specific genetic variation and its effects can be missed when studies lack diversity.
The study also found that most of the genetic variants previously identified in European populations also appear to be present in people of South Asian and African descent. Although the strength of these effects varies, the overall pattern suggests that MS is caused by underlying immune and biological mechanisms shared across populations, rather than being a fundamentally different disease between different ancestral groups.
Previous research has shown clear racial disparities in multiple sclerosis outcomes, with people from black ethnic backgrounds often experiencing more severe disability and a worse course of the disease than white people.
Although differences in genetics alone cannot explain these disparities, the historical underrepresentation of South Asian and Black populations in genetic research means that MS may be underrecognized, diagnosed later, and assessed less accurately in these groups. It also means there is less certainty that genetic risk tools and potential treatments developed using European-focused data will work equally well for everyone. This study shows how a more representative scientific approach can improve our understanding of the disease and help close these gaps over time.
The genetics of MS has traditionally been overwhelmingly based on people of European descent. This study shows that although many of the biological pathways that cause MS are common, our understanding of the disease is limited because large parts of the world’s population are excluded from research. Better representation is not only an issue of fairness, but also leads to better science. ”
Ruth Dobson, lead study author and professor of clinical neurology at Queen Mary, University of London
Dr Benjamin Jacobs, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology at Queen Mary University of London and co-author of the study, said: “This study shows why diversity is important in genetics. If studies only include one ancestry group, we miss important insights. By broadening the number of participants, we can deepen our understanding of MS, discover hidden risk factors and build predictive tools that work for everyone.”
Caitlin Astbury, Senior Research Communications Manager at the MS Society, said: “More than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS and the condition can affect people in all communities, ages, ethnic backgrounds and genders. “It is likely caused by a combination of factors. However, most of what we know about genetics and MS comes from studies of people of Caucasian descent. It is important to ensure that research includes people from diverse backgrounds, and the ADAMS study is important.” Research like this is essential if advances in MS treatment, diagnosis, and risk prediction are to benefit everyone. ”
The authors note that this difference reflects the European-dominated data used to develop these tools, highlighting why broader representation is important for unbiased predictive genetics.
sauce:
Queen Mary University of London
Reference magazines:
Jacobs, B.M.; Others. (2026). Genetic determinants of multiple sclerosis susceptibility in people with diverse ancestry backgrounds. Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000214708, https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214708.
