Higher-risk asymptomatic family members of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have early subclinical manifestations of MS, a recent study found. These findings underscore the importance of early detection in high-risk individuals. Researchers utilized data from the Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) project, a prospective cohort study of first-degree relatives of people with MS. This study included 100 participants at risk for MS, with 41 at higher risk (40 women [98%]) and 59 at lower risk (25 women [42%]), at a mean (SD) age of 35.1 (8.7) years. Given the unequal sex distribution between the 2 groups, the analyses were restricted to women (n=65). Researchers found:

• When considering all measured outcomes, higher-risk women differed from lower-risk women.
• Detailed testing with a vibration sensitivity testing device in a subgroup of 47 women showed that higher-risk women exhibited significantly poorer vibration perception in the distal lower extremities.