Mono infection associated with threefold higher multiple sclerosis risk

Having the illness infectious mononucleosis, usually referred to as mono, brought on by the Epstein-Barr virus is related to an elevated threat of creating a number of sclerosis (MS), in line with a research printed on April 1, 2026, in Neurology® Open Entry, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus that’s extraordinarily frequent however causes no signs in most individuals. Nonetheless, when an individual contracts the virus as a teen or grownup, it will possibly result in mononucleosis. The Epstein-Barr virus is the commonest explanation for mono. The research doesn’t show that mono brought on by the Epstein-Barr virus causes MS; it solely reveals an affiliation.

“These outcomes spotlight the necessity for additional analysis into methods to stop an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus,” stated research creator Jennifer L. St. Sauver, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Stopping these infections might cut back the general burden of MS. Whereas MS is comparatively uncommon, it carries the dangers of great incapacity and excessive therapy prices, and it normally develops when persons are of their prime years of working and elevating households.”

For the research, researchers examined greater than twenty years of well being care information to search out individuals who had a constructive check for Epstein-Barr virus an infection and a prognosis of infectious mononucleosis. The 4,721 individuals the researchers recognized have been then every in comparison with three individuals of the identical age and intercourse who had not had mono, or 14,163 individuals.

The individuals who had mono have been adopted for a median of six years. The individuals with out mono have been adopted for a median of eight years. Throughout that point, eight individuals with a historical past of mono developed MS, or 0.17%. This represented 2.25 circumstances per 10,000 person-years. Individual-years characterize each the variety of individuals within the research and the period of time every particular person spent within the research. For the group with out mono, 10 individuals developed MS, or 0.07%. This represented 0.77 circumstances per 10,000 person-years.

Researchers then adjusted for different components that might have an effect on the chance of MS, resembling race and ethnicity, smoking standing and whether or not members had different circumstances resembling diabetes, melancholy and substance use issues. After adjustment, they discovered that folks with a historical past of mono have been thrice extra prone to develop MS than individuals with out mono.

“Mononucleosis is a comparatively unusual sickness, however creating methods to stop an infection with the virus that causes this illness might assist us to decrease the variety of MS circumstances sooner or later,” St. Sauver stated.

A limitation of the research is that members have been adopted for a median of six to eight years, so it is potential that MS might develop later in life for some individuals.

The research was supported by ModernaTX, Inc., which is creating vaccines to focus on a number of Epstein-Barr virus-associated circumstances.