McGill_University discovers early MS blood markers

Researchers at McGill University, led by Dr. Adil Harroud of Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, have discovered a group of blood proteins that are altered in individuals who later develop Multiple sclerosis (MS), in some cases more than a decade before diagnosis. The study, published in Annals of Neurology, screened over 2,500 blood proteins and identified 39 linked to MS risk. Eight of these proteins were found to be altered in pre-diagnostic blood samples from the UK Biobank. One protein, DKKL1, was associated with a lower risk and milder disease course. This discovery offers hope for a simple blood test to identify high-risk individuals, enabling early intervention and potentially preventing significant neurological damage, similar to cholesterol screening for heart disease. The research was supported by Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, the Bougie Family Young Investigator Award, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Canada Brain Research Fund.