ArticleBrain communications2026
Childhood adversity, allostatic load and epigenetic signatures in paediatric and adult-onset multiple sclerosis.
Article in Brain communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Epigenetic Insights in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis: DNA Methylation Highlights an Involvement of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Host Immune Networks.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Childhood adversity is increasingly recognized as a critical modifier of neurologic disorder development and disease severity, including in the neuroimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). While previous studies have linked early-life adversity to increased MS susceptibility and more severe disease, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated associations between childhood adversity and MS clinical features, with a focus on two potential pathogenic mechanisms: allostatic load and epigenetic modifications. We evaluated 60 consecutively enrolled young adults with MS; 30 with paediatric-onset MS (POMS) and 30 with adult-onset MS (AOMS). At time of enrolment in this cross-sectional study, participants had MS disease duration of 6 years on average. POMS participants were mean 22.09 (2.66) years and AOMS participants were mean 32.41 (2.19) years old. 62% of participants were female. Childhood adversity was defined using a composite index of individual, family and socioeconomic measures captured by the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire, parental education level and estimated household income during childhood. Clinical outcomes included patient-reported SymptoMScreen questionnaire regarding MS symptom burden and MS neurologist-assessed disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of the participant's neurologic exam at the time of enrolment. Circulating biomarkers of allostatic load and genome-wide epigenetic profiles (DNA methylation via RRBS; reduced representation bisulfite sequencing) were also assessed. A history of high childhood adversity was associated with significantly greater patient-reported MS symptom burden (
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