Adolescent concussion may double risk for multiple sclerosis fifteen years later

This content was originally authored by Malayka Gormally in the 10/17/19 Concussion Alliance Update newsletter

The findings of a study linking concussion in adolescence with an increased later-life risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) were presented in a poster session this September at the 35th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) 2019. According to Medscape, the study found the "risk for developing MS over time nearly doubled in this population compared with people without a history of concussion."

Christopher Povolo et al. assessed 391,860 people, of which 97,965 were diagnosed with a concussion during their adolescent years (11-18). For the combined group of males and females, there was no increased risk for MS in a time frame less than 15 years from the concussion. In the time frame 15 years or longer, however, the concussed group had an almost doubled risk of MS (a hazard ratio of 1.85).

Additionally, the researchers did several secondary analyses, including analyzing by gender and using a more "sensitive definition of developing MS." When analyzed by gender, males had an increased risk of MS at just eight years after the injury (hazard ratio 1.58), but females did not. When using a more sensitive definition, both males and females had increased risk of MS at eight years after injury (hazard ratio 1.37).