MS & Accelerated Aging in Children
- Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit signs of accelerated biological aging, even during their teenage years, according to a new study from the University of California San Diego...
- Graves, professor and vice chair of neurosciences at UC san Diego, noted that the study found evidence of accelerated biological aging in children with MS.
- The research team analyzed blood samples from 125 children with MS and 145 without, using DNA methylation markers to determine biological age.
Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience accelerated biological aging,a groundbreaking finding highlighted in a UC San Diego study. This research reveals teenagers with MS show signs of advanced epigenetic age, indicating potential cellular deterioration that might precede visible symptoms. The study, published in Neurology, spotlights how MS could trigger early aging. This new finding could revolutionize treatment approaches for patients. The research suggests that early detection and intervention could dramatically improve long-term outcomes. News Directory 3 is covering this story, emphasizing the importance of understanding MS’s impact on children. What strategies might help slow this accelerated aging process? Discover what’s next in the fight against MS.
Accelerated Aging Seen in Children with Multiple Sclerosis
Updated June 09, 2025
Credit: Mohamed abdelghaffar from Pexels
Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit signs of accelerated biological aging, even during their teenage years, according to a new study from the University of California San Diego School of medicine. The research, published in Neurology, suggests that MS may cause early aging in young patients, offering insights into the disease’s long-term progression. this study marks the first exploration into whether MS induces early aging in a pediatric population.
Jennifer S. Graves, professor and vice chair of neurosciences at UC san Diego, noted that the study found evidence of accelerated biological aging in children with MS. Compared to their peers without MS, these children showed signs of advanced epigenetic age, a measure of DNA modifications linked to aging. Graves added that aging is associated with a less treatable form of MS, and adults with MS experience both normal and accelerated aging due to the disease.
The research team analyzed blood samples from 125 children with MS and 145 without, using DNA methylation markers to determine biological age. Unlike chronological age, biological age reflects the rate at which the body deteriorates at a cellular level.The study revealed that children with MS, despite appearing healthy, had DNA patterns indicating they were biologically older.
Researchers observed differences in four epigenetic clocks, with the most important signs of accelerated aging appearing in models sensitive to health-related stress and inflammation. Some children with MS appeared to be aging up to two years faster than their healthy counterparts, despite an average chronological age of only 15. This early biological aging could impact how MS is treated.
Biological age has been previously linked to disability progression in adults with MS. This new study indicates that this process may begin much earlier than previously thought, perhaps even before the onset of visible symptoms. According to Graves, this is a new concept in MS research, as aging is not typically associated with teenagers. However, these children are accumulating cellular damage that may manifest clinically later in life, leading to disease progression in their 30s.
“This is a whole new concept in MS,” said Graves. “Aging isn’t something we think of affecting teenagers… It is a significant finding to see this accelerated aging in children.”
Future studies will track patients over time to determine how early biological aging contributes to long-term disability. Researchers also plan to investigate how social stressors, obesity, and environmental exposures may accelerate biological aging in children with MS, especially given the higher prevalence of pediatric MS among lower-income families. Understanding the interplay between the immune system, the brain, and aging could potentially lead to full remission of MS in the future, researchers believe. This research highlights the importance of understanding multiple sclerosis and its effects on children.
What’s next
The researchers plan to conduct longitudinal studies to monitor how early biological aging affects the long-term progression of disability in MS patients. They also aim to explore the impact of social and environmental factors on accelerated aging in children with MS.