TY - JOUR
TI - The possible effects of the solar and geomagnetic activity on multiple sclerosis
AU - Papathanasopoulos, P.
AU - Preka-Papadema, P.
AU - Gkotsinas, A.
AU - Dimisianos, N.
AU - Hillaris, A.
AU - Katsavrias, C.
AU - Antonakopoulos, G.
AU - Moussas, X.
AU - Andreadou, E.
AU - Georgiou, V.
AU - Papachristou, P.
AU - Kargiotis, O.
JO - Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
PY - 2016
VL - 146
TODO - null
SP - 82-89
PB - Elsevier B.V.
SN - 0303-8467
TODO - 10.1016/j.clineuro.2016.04.023
TODO - Article;  female;  geomagnetic activity;  hospital admission;  human;  magnetic field;  major clinical study;  male;  medical record;  multiple sclerosis;  relapse;  solar cycle;  solar energy;  wind;  adult;  adverse effects;  environmental exposure;  magnetism;  middle aged;  multiple sclerosis;  risk factor;  statistics and numerical data, Adult;  Environmental Exposure;  Female;  Humans;  Magnetic Phenomena;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Multiple Sclerosis;  Patient Admission;  Risk Factors;  Solar Activity
TODO - Objectives Increasing observational evidence on the biological effects of Space Weather suggests that geomagnetic disturbances may be an environmental risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses. In the present study, we aim to investigate the possible effect of geomagnetic disturbances on MS activity. Patients and methods MS patient admittance rates were correlated with the solar and geophysical data covering an eleven-year period (1996-2006, 23rd solar cycle). We also examined the relationship of patterns of the solar flares, the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and the solar wind with the recorded MS admission numbers. Results The rate of MS patient admittance due to acute relapses was found to be associated with the solar and geomagnetic events. There was a "primary" peak in MS admittance rates shortly after intense geomagnetic storms followed by a "secondary" peak 7-8 months later. Conclusion We conclude that the geomagnetic and solar activity may represent an environmental health risk factor for multiple sclerosis and we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying this association. More data from larger case series are needed to confirm these preliminary results and to explore the possible influence of Space Weather on the biological and radiological markers of the disease. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ER -