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Professor Bruce Taylor (Photo: supplied)

Can we prevent multiple sclerosis? Insights and clues form epidemiology. 

Hosted by: Associate Professor Brendan McMorran

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects more than 2 million people worldwide and more than 35000 Australians. It is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological dysfunction in adults.

There is no one cause of MS and it is known that there is a complex interplay between genetic environmental and infectious agents(viruses) that interact to increase the risk of developing MS in an individual. There are several well established non genetic risk factors for developing MS including exposure to the Epstein Barr virus and the timing of that exposure, adolescent obesity, smoking and low sunlight/vitamin D levels. The other major risk factor for developing MS is being female and an individual’s reproductive history. Recent work has shown that the prevalence and incidence of MS is increasing at an alarming rate in Australia and that the rate of increase is accelerating. This talk will focus on the factors associated with MS risk, how they are changing and how we could potentially intervene to reduce the risk of developing MS, at the population level and also at the individual level.

Biography

Professor Bruce Taylor is a clinician researcher with more than 25 years’ experience in MS research. In 2021 they received an Australian NHMRC investigator grant L2, in 2022 they were elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences and in 2022 they were awarded an MS Australia 50^th anniversary presidents medal for services to MS research. Professor Taylor is Academic Lead MS Research Flagship at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and the University of Tasmania.

Research specialization: Professor Taylor’s principal areas of expertise lie in the field of MS clinical, genetic, multiomics, and epidemiology research, including the personal, clinical, and genetic factors that are associated with the onset and progression of MS. This involves the development and management of complex cohort studies, gene-environment interaction studies and the development and implementation of clinical trials.