A new study indicates that women who experienced abuse in childhood may be at increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

The research monitored women's health until the end of 2018. Among more than 14,000 women who reported experiencing abuse in childhood, about 300 women were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system. According to Johns Hopkins, multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and the myelin sheath, a fatty substance surrounding healthy nerve fibers, in the brain and spinal cord. 

This attack causes inflammation, which can alter electrical messages in the brain. The ways this affects MS patients vary – some may have only mild symptoms, while others may lose their ability to speak or walk.

MS symptoms may also include:

• Speech interference
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

After accounting for factors that can contribute to multiple sclerosis, including smoking, obesity, education, and household income, women who experienced abuse during childhood were more likely to develop multiple sclerosis.

According to the study, women who were sexually abused in childhood were 65 percent more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, those who experienced emotional abuse in childhood had a 40 percent increased risk, and those who were physically abused had a 31 percent increase in risk. 

The study’s authors wrote that "better understanding of risk factors and timing of exposure may open doors for prevention and provide insight into disease mechanisms."