Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition that causes damage to the central nervous system and usually appears between the ages of 20 and 40.
According to a recent study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, adolescents who have trouble sleeping may be more likely to acquire multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. Sleep is crucial for good health. It keeps the body functioning normally. But scientists are still trying to comprehend the risks of insufficient sleep as well as the advantages of sleep. The value of sleep during adolescence is one topic of interest.
Multiple sclerosis has no known cause. Experts are striving to understand its risk factors and how people can reduce their risk. Not getting enough sleep and having poor sleep quality throughout adolescence. Moreover, this may raise the risk of acquiring multiple sclerosis later in life.
The significance of sleep for teenagers:
High-quality sleep is critical for teenagers’ healthy growth and development. Good sleep aids in the healing of the body and promotes mental function. Teens between the ages of thirteen and eighteen should obtain 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. This is according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
The study provides more proof that teens need enough sleep. And that getting too little sleep could be harmful to their health.
The authors emphasise the importance of teaching parents and teenagers about the dangers of sleep deprivation.
Multiple Sclerosis and the quality of sleep:
This was a case-control study conducted in Sweden. 3,164 control volunteers and 2,075 MS patients were enrolled in the study.
Participants were questioned by researchers about their adolescent years’ sleep duration and quality. They were also questioned about the distinction between their sleep patterns on workdays, schooldays, and weekends and leisure days. The candidates were then questioned about their sleep quality, which ranged from extremely poor to very good.
Sleeping less than seven hours every night throughout adolescence was linked to an increased chance of developing multiple sclerosis. Low-quality sleep came with a similar risk.
They discovered that a person’s risk for multiple sclerosis was not significantly affected by the sleep schedule changes between weekends and schooldays.
Limitations of the study and further research:
The study was subject to some restrictions.
Firstly, the research does not support the theory that MS is brought on by inadequate sleep. Reverse causality, recollection bias, selection bias, and residual confounding are all acknowledged by the authors.
Secondly ,researchers also used information from participant-completed surveys. Additionally, they acknowledge that factors like stress and food preferences may have been factors.
The study was conducted in a single country. This may indicate a future need for more diversified demographic investigations.
Parvathy Sukumaran 
