New research has suggested that a lack of sleep during teenage years may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, found that getting enough restorative sleep during adolescence may help prevent the condition.
MS is a complex condition that is thought to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking, teenage weight, Epstein-Barr virus infection, sun exposure, and vitamin D. Shift work has also been linked to an increased risk of MS, particularly in young people. However, the link between sleep patterns, including duration, body clock disruption and quality, and MS risk had not been fully explored.
To investigate this further, the study used data from the Epidemiological Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis (EIMS), a population-based case-control study that included Swedish residents aged 16-70. Participants were recruited from hospital and private neurology clinics and matched for age, sex, and area of residence. The study participants were asked about their sleep patterns at different ages, including the length of sleep on work or school days and at weekends, as well as their sleep quality.
The study found that sleep patterns during adolescence were associated with an increased risk of MS. Specifically, those who slept for less than 7 hours per night during their teenage years had a 40% increased risk of developing MS. Additionally, those who reported poor sleep quality during this period had a 50% increased risk of MS. The findings remained similar even when those who worked shifts were excluded.
While the study’s authors caution that their findings should be interpreted with care, they suggest that a lack of sleep and poor sleep quality may affect immune pathways and inflammatory signalling, and that the body clock plays a role in regulating the immune response. They also note that insufficient or disturbed sleep is common among teenagers, which is partly explained by physiological, psychological, and social changes during this period. The researchers recommend educational interventions to help teenagers and their parents understand the negative health consequences of insufficient sleep.