A groundbreaking study from UC San Francisco has found that the immune system may start attacking the brain years before multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms appear. Researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 5,000 U.S. service members and identified early signs of damage to myelin, the protective coating around nerve fibers. These early immune changes — including spikes in proteins like MOG and IL-3 — appeared as much as seven years before diagnosis.
The team discovered that MOG, a protein linked to myelin injury, rises first, signaling that the body has begun attacking nerve insulation. About a year later, another protein called neurofilament light chain increases, showing that nerve fibers themselves are being damaged. During this time, IL-3 enters the bloodstream and draws more immune cells into the brain and spinal cord, triggering the chain of events that leads to MS symptoms such as vision loss, weakness, and numbness.
Researchers say this discovery could transform how MS is detected and treated. By identifying 21 key blood proteins, they’ve laid the groundwork for a simple test that could diagnose MS years earlier — or even prevent it altogether. Early detection may allow doctors to intervene before irreversible damage occurs, offering new hope to millions at risk for the disease.
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