Editor's Choice Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 11 Oct 2012 - 11:00 PDT

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This week more than 7000 leading MS physicians and researchers are in Lyon, France, attending the annual scientific conference of The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).

In the official Conference press briefing, leading MS clinicians described some of the unanswered questions currently perplexing the MS community.

"One concern is the growing proportion of women, compared with men who develop MS. Since the 1950s this proportion has grown from a ratio of 2:1 (women to men) to 3:1. "We don't know why," said Professor Christian Confavreux, Hopital Neurologique, Lyon, France and Chair of ECTRIMS 2012.

When asked about the apparent increase in MS currently occurring in the Middle East, the panel said that this was a mystery, but there were clues.

"MS seems to be a disease of 'modern life' ", said Professor Confavreux. As less developed societies modernise, many factors change, such as basic hygiene, vaccinations, smoking, and diet.

"We don't know what it is, but something about this new way of life is leading to an increase in MS." He pointed to the French West Indies where a major study had yielded intriguing findings.

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Multiple Sclerosis Yielding Secrets But Questions Remain