Higher levels of education are associated with a decreased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) independent of other established risk factors, according to the Environmental Factors in MS (EnvIMS) study.
The case-control study of 953 MS patients and 1,717 healthy controls reported education level and history of exposure to putative environmental risk factors, including known risk factors of smoking, infective mononucleosis, vitamin D levels, and body size.
In comparison to the lowest level of education, higher levels of education was associated with a decreased MS risk odds ratio of 0.53, a risk that was only moderately reduced after adjusting for other risk factors. The study authors note this suggests factors linked to lower socioeconomic status aside from established risks may play a role in MS.
Citation: Bjørnevik K, Riise T, Cortese M, et al. Level of education and multiple sclerosis risk after adjustment for known risk factors: The EnvIMS study. Mult Scler. 2015. pii:1352458515579444.