Multiple Sclerosis Accelerated by Smoking, Study Finds

A new Harvard study concludes that smokers with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience more rapid progression of the disease than nonsmokers, Reuters reported July 14.

Smokers also were 2.4 times more likely to have a progressive form of MS rather than the relapsing/remitting type, and 2.5 times more likely to have developed secondary progressive MS after an initial diagnosis of the relapsing/remitting version of the disease. Researchers found that smokers had more disability, severe disease and brain atrophy than nonsmokers with MS, and had a greater degree of damaged brain tissue and brain atrophy over time.

Researcher Alberto Ascherio of the Harvard School of Public Health put a positive spin on the findings, noting that MS patients who quit smoking could slow progression of the disease.

The study was published in the July 2009 issue of the Archives of Neurology.