A new Harvard study concludes that smokers with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience more rapid progression of the disease than non-smokers, Reuters reported July 14.
Smokers also were 2.4 times more likely to have a progressive form of MS rather than the relapsing/remitting type, and 2.5 times more likely to have developed secondary progressive MS after an initial diagnosis of the relapsing/remitting version of the disease. Researchers found that smokers had more disability, severe disease and brain atrophy than non-smokers with MS, and had a greater degree of damaged brain tissue and brain atrophy over time.
Researcher Alberto Ascherio of the Harvard School of Public Health put a positive spin on the findings, noting that MS patients who quit smoking could slow progression of the disease.
Source: Archives of Neurology. July 2009