Researchers at Stanford University have linked the mononucleosis virus, Epstein-Barr, as a cause of multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system. In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath, or myelin, that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.
Epstein-Barr virus, one of the most common human viruses, is found all over the world. Most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It spreads most commonly through bodily fluids, and can cause infectious mononucleosis, also called mono.
