Paint products and multiple sclerosis: what do they have in common?

Scientists have warned that paints and varnishes and solvents can significantly increase the chances of developing multiple sclerosis in those patients who have a hereditary predisposition to the disease.

The problem of multiple sclerosis has been troubling scientists for decades. According to statistics, at least 2.1 million people on the planet suffer from this pathology. The chronic inflammatory process affecting the nervous system has certain risk factors: the development of multiple sclerosis most often occurs in women of the Caucasian race, as well as in those people whose close relatives had a similar diagnosis. A person cannot influence these factors in any way. But scientists have voiced another unfavorable factor that can stimulate the development of the disease - this is intoxication with certain substances. Therefore, if you prevent the penetration of dangerous toxins into the body in advance, you can prevent the development of multiple sclerosis. What toxic substances are we talking about?

According to the results of a new study, intoxication leading to the development of the disease is associated with systematic exposure to solvents and paints, as well as cigarette smoke.

Professor Anna Hedstrom, representing the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, willingly described the essence of the study. The specialists suggested that regular inhalation of toxic substances and, as a result, irritation of the lung tissue, can provoke an immune reaction, which gives impetus to the development of pathology in patients with a genetic predisposition. To confirm their assumption, the scientists analyzed information on more than 2,000 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Also, for differentiation, materials on almost 3,000 healthy people were reviewed. Molecular genetic examination demonstrated that patients who had a hereditary predisposition were carriers of a genetic leukocyte disorder. The information provided by the scientists turned out to be more than interesting:

• in a group of people who did not have a genetic defect, did not smoke, and were not systematically exposed to paints and solvents, the ratio of sick to healthy people was within the range of 1:4;
• in a group of people with a genetic defect and smokers, but without systematic exposure to paints and solvents, the ratio of sick to healthy people was 9:5;
• In a group of people with a genetic defect, who smoke and are regularly exposed to paints and varnishes, the ratio of sick to healthy people was 8:1 (!).

Taking into account the information received, Professor Hedstrom stated: systematic intoxication, which an ordinary healthy person is exposed to, increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis almost twofold. And the combination of "bad" genes and intoxication is already a sevenfold increase in the incidence rate. If regular smoking is added to this "bouquet", then the growth of the incidence rate accelerates by 30 times.

"We are dealing with dangerous factors that become even more dangerous when combined with each other. We will continue to study how these factors interact with each other. This is necessary for the further development of effective preventive measures. At the moment, we can only assume that inhalation of toxic substances stimulates the development of an inflammatory reaction in the lungs, which acts as a cause of immune disorders," comments Oxford doctor Gabriele De Luca.

So far, we can only draw one conclusion: if there are cases of multiple sclerosis in the family, then you should not tempt fate: it is better to take care of your health in advance by quitting smoking and avoiding work related to paints and varnishes and solvents.

The results of the research work are described in the periodical Neurology.

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