Now the title of this post seemingly has nothing to do with the content of the paper, but what this new paper says is air poluution is bad for you. We say NSS.
However is it the air pollution that is the issue or is it something that is more causal, but relates to air pollution as such MS is more common in city life than living in rural areas. Is this because you are more at risk of catching infections or is it that there is a risk of MS due to cars polluting the air, but if you live in a city you are more likely to take a bus than drive a car…is that the risk factor and this is the point I am making and you only find what you look for….There are other reasons no doubt.
Toubasi AA, Al-Sayegh TN. Air Pollution and the Risk and Progression of Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2026 Feb 9. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70330.
Purpose: Air pollution has been linked to several neurological conditions, including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence regarding its association with multiple sclerosis (MS) remains conflicting, limited by small sample sizes.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane controlled register of trials (CENTRAL) were searched on September 9, 2025 without any language or time restrictions. The inclusion criteria were observational studies that evaluated the association between exposure to air pollutants and MS development or severity. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled as effect estimates using the fixed or random effects model. Exposures included PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3). Outcomes were MS risk and severity, including relapses, disability progression measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and contrast-enhancing lesions (CELs) development.
Results: Twenty-two studies comprising 16,585,206 participants were included. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 (HR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.07-1.38), PM10 (HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02-1.42), and carbon monoxide (HR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.34-11.08) were associated with increased MS risk. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 (HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.01-1.43), PM10 (HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.01-1.45), Nitric oxide (HR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02-1.25), and ozone (O3) (HR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04-1.27) were associated with relapses. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 (HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.05-4.60) and PM10 (HR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03) were linked to CELs, while PM10 (HR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.65) was associated with disability progression.
Interpretation: Long-term air pollution exposure was associated with higher MS risk, and short-term exposure with greater disease severity. Reducing air pollution may be a key strategy to protect brain health in MS.
Source: multiple-sclerosis-research.org