Scientists from the University of Michigan believe that multiple sclerosis outbreaks are caused by stress. The researchers shared their findings in a published paper. magazine Brain and Behavior.
This is an incurable disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause difficulty walking and muscle spasms, as well as blurred vision, eye pain, urinary incontinence and depression.
In most people with multiple sclerosis, these symptoms sometimes go away for a few months and then come back. Researchers believe they have found a clear link between stress and problem exacerbation.
Scientists from the University of Michigan studied the nature of symptoms in more than 700 patients with multiple sclerosis. They found that those who experienced stressful events (poverty, abuse, and divorce) were significantly more likely to experience frequent and severe flare-ups of illness symptoms.
“The results of our study will help develop tactics to combat relapse, such as psychotherapy and the use of tranquilizers. This will help reduce the impact of stress and improve patient well-being,” the authors write.
It is not yet clear why stress contributes to worsening symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Scientists will look for the answer to this question in their future studies.