Children who choose not to take up smoking are less likely to need MS care in the future, scientists have claimed.
Youngsters are already bombarded with reasons for not smoking, such as lung cancer, bad skin and heart disease. However, the latest study from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine suggests that avoiding the unhealthy habit could also reduce a person's risk of MS. The team studied more than 30,000 people, including 87 with MS. They found that those who had smoked before the age of 17 were 2.7 times more likely to develop MS than non-smokers. In contrast, people who took up smoking above the age of 17 did not face an increased risk of the disease.
Study author Dr Joseph Finkelstein, who collaborated with researchers from the Veterans Affairs MS Centre for Excellence, commented:
"Studies show that environmental factors play a prominent role in multiple sclerosis. Early smoking is an environmental factor that can be avoided."
A recent study also found that passive smoking may increase a person's risk of dementia, providing yet another reason for avoiding cigarette smoke.