Common viral antibodies could trigger MS, research reveals

Scientists find antibodies for widespread Epstein-Barr virus can misfire and attach to protein in brain and spinal cord

Scientists have uncovered how a common childhood virus could trigger multiple sclerosis (MS), in findings that could pave the way for new treatments for the devastating condition.

The research suggests that the body's immune response to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a normally harmless infection, can misfire and mistakenly target a crucial protein in the brain and spinal cord.