I live in Ohio and the little town I live in of 3000 people 54 of us have MS , a couple of smaller towns near us also have a high rate of MS.We call our location MS alley.
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I've also read about the "hot" spots and increased incidence in the colder climates. I've heard something about vitamin D possibly being indicated in MS.
Well, I'm one of those who have never been to a cold climate. I was born and raised (and still living) in sunny Southern California. I've spent much of my younger years soaking up the sun. I have the skin cancer to prove it too.
I wonder how I got so lucky... :(
The Consortium for MS Centers has a little blurb on their home page stating that the incidence of MS in Maine is 1 in 400!!! 2 1/2 times the national average. Other locations of extremely high incidence in the world were the Scottish Islands of Orkney and Shetland incidence - about 12%. I'll look it up later. I'll do a little blurb on this . It is interesting. I have a great resource on it. Quix
You will also find out that Canada has the highest incidence of MS in the world. Guess where I lived for 3 years? Canada!
Researchers believe that it has something to do with a colder climate and being confined indoors because of it. Add in whatever heating system you use and they "think" it may have exposed suspectible people to a "toxin." At least that's what I have read.
I also lived in Waltham, Mass as a child, which is another cold state, so I wonder if researches are onto something. Of course, there are plenty of people from Southern areas that will tell us, that they have MS and have NEVER been to a cold climate. So many things to consider.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Heather