In a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found evidence indicating that children with this autoimmune disease are experiencing accelerated biological aging. This study, recently published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, is the first of its kind to explore the link between MS and premature aging in the pediatric population.
MS is a chronic condition that attacks the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. While the disease is often associated with adults, it can also affect children. The new research focused on this younger demographic, examining whether the presence of MS leads to early signs of aging. To conduct the study, the team of researchers analyzed blood samples from 125 children with MS and 145 children without the disease. They used DNA methylation markers, which are molecular changes associated with biological age, to measure the rate of aging at a cellular level.
The results were astonishing. Despite appearing healthy on the outside, children with MS showed distinct DNA patterns suggesting that they were biologically older than their peers without the disease. The researchers identified differences in four different epigenetic clocks, with two of these clocks, which are particularly sensitive to health – related stress and inflammation, showing clear signs of accelerated aging in the MS patients. In fact, the most severely affected children seemed to be aging up to two years faster biologically than their healthy counterparts, even though the average chronological age of the participants was just 15.
Dr. Jennifer S. Graves, the senior author of the study, a professor, and vice – chair of neurosciences and division chief of neuroimmunology at UC San Diego, expressed her surprise at the findings. “We had no idea that we would find such significant evidence of accelerated biological aging in these children. It’s a concept that goes against the traditional view of aging and MS, which has mainly focused on adult patients,” she said. Graves also pointed out the potential implications of these findings for the long – term treatment of MS. “Aging is known to be related to the development of a more difficult – to – treat form of MS in adults. If these children are already experiencing accelerated aging during their teenage years, it could mean that they will face even greater challenges as they grow older,” she added.
Biological age, as opposed to chronological age, measures how fast the body is deteriorating on a cellular level. Previous research has already established a link between biological age and disability progression in adult MS patients. However, this new study suggests that this process may begin much earlier than previously thought, potentially even before the visible symptoms of disease progression start to show. This discovery could revolutionize the way MS is treated in children, as it may prompt doctors to focus not only on suppressing the immune system, which is the current standard treatment, but also on finding ways to slow down the accelerated aging process.
The researchers now plan to conduct follow – up studies to track these patients over time and see how early biological aging contributes to long – term disability. They also aim to explore other factors that may accelerate aging in children with MS, such as social stressors, obesity, and environmental exposures. Given that pediatric MS is more prevalent among lower – income families, understanding these additional factors could be crucial for developing more targeted and effective treatment strategies.
Overall, the findings from this UC San Diego study offer new hope for better understanding and treating multiple sclerosis in children. By shining a light on the previously unknown connection between MS and accelerated aging, the research could lead to the development of novel therapies that not only manage the symptoms of the disease but also address its underlying causes, potentially improving the lives of countless young patients in the future.
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