Doctors hopeful of identifying MS more quickly

Doctors are hopeful that new research will help to identify conditions such as multiple sclerosis quicker than is currently achievable.

A research team from McGill University believe they have developed a proven method of identifying genetic disease quickly, using an exome sequencing method.

Lead researcher Dr Nada Jabado of the Montreal Children's Hospital explains that the new approach does not require access to patients that share the same gene pool with this new technique.

He added: "Now, within two weeks and with just two patients, we can easily isolate a gene.

"This compares to a time frame of six or seven months or even years before we saw results with the old process."

Meanwhile, research published earlier this week by scientists from the University of Washington suggested that a viral infection may trigger immune cells to attack nerves, potentially causing multiple sclerosis.

Published in the June 6th issue of Nature Immunology, the research suggests that a viral infection can incite the body to attack its own nerve tissue.

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