Any twins in here?

[addicted2harleys]

I was just wondering how MS affects identical twins.  I am one.  My twin does not have the neuro issues that I have.  But, she does have thyroid issues.  Yes, I have had my thyroid tested and I have no problems there.

I kind of find this odd....

Thanks,
Addi

[JaneK1975]

I am a twin, but I am a fraternal twin, not identical. We're a boy/girl set (my mom says that if she could have placed an order, that's what she would have asked for). My brother has no neurological issues that I am aware of.

[talee40]

Hi Lulu,

I am an identical twin, my sister has had MS for nearly 20 years now (we are 41 yrs old). Only recently I have started having sensory issues, but the scans are clear and the neurologist's believes I don't have MS.

I find it interesting how twins genes can charge through the environment and even in utura according to epegenetic and genome studies etc.

I just wanted to say, your comments are always heart warming to people on the forum, thanks for putting a positive spin on it for the discordant twin.

[addicted2harleys]

I am an identical twin.  When I posted this question originally, I did it because I found it odd that one identical twin could have MS and the other have nothing relating at all.  Since this post though, my twin has been diagnosed with MS.  

We are not part of any study.  

Addi

[lmeiser45]

I'm a twin too, but my sister has no signs/symptoms of MS.  We are a part of the UW Twin studies, but haven't done anything with MS.  I am interested.  We never knew if we were identical or not.  With the UW Twin Research center, they had us put saliva in a container and mail it back.  We haven't gotten our results back, but we got $50 just for the sample.  I'm waiting to find out.  I don't think we're identical, we look nothing alike.  I also have to say, I can't tell our baby pics-5 year old pics apart, so who knows.  She had thyroid problems, I never have.  What would this study look like besides donating blood?

[Lulu54]

Any of you twins out there might want to participate in the Accelerated Cure Project.  This is a great organization and they have a repository of blood samples and extensive questionaires from many MS patients.  Scientists research MS can request samples from their repository.

The always wants controls from your family if possible to go with your samples.  I took two of my sisters along and we made it quite the adventure. They would really like samples from as many twins as possible.  

You can check out their locations at acceleratedcure.org .


BTW you don't have to be a twin to do this --- you just have to be willing to donate lots of blood! LOL

be involved,
Lu

PS - T-LYNN IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU PASSING THROUGH - NOW GET BACK TO YOUR HOMEWORK!  :-)

[addicted2harleys]

Thanks, Lynn.  I am glad your twin is healthy...I don't wish this on anyone...

Addi

[young at heart]

ADDI:

I AM AN IDENTICAL TWIN, WE SHARE IDENTICAL DNA MARKERS HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF MS IS UNKNOWN, MY SISTER IS IN EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH EXCEPT FOR A KNEE INJURY YEARS AGO.

I PRAY SHE NEVER HAS TO ENDURE THIS DISEASE OR OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS.

T-LYNN

[addicted2harleys]

Interesting.  Thank you for the comments and info.  I always thought that twins (at least identical) shared the same DNA.  I also find it interesting that if one twin has possible MS/confirmed MS that the other twin does seem to have something...

Thanks again,
Addi

[Wobbly]

I'm am an identical twin and my twin has no neuro symptoms and says she doesn't think she has MS, but she has RA very bad and is on heavy meds for that.  

take care
wobbly

[Lulu54]

just a  few numbers - right now they estimate 1 in 750 people in the US has MS if there is no one in their immediate family with MS.

If you have a sibling or parent with MS those odds increase to 1 in 100.

In your case, identical twins have a 1 in 4 chance of having MS if the other twin has MS.


So the reverse of this is 3 out of 4 twins of MS twins do not have MS.  I like that thinking a lot better.  :-)

Lulu

[cali1892]

Hi,
I'm a twin, though not identical.  I am hypothyroid as well, my twin does not have thyroid problems.  She does have quite a few neurological symptoms.  I think she probably has ms as well, but she refuses to find out.