Multiple sclerosis, often called MS, is a long-term disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering around nerve fibers.
Over time, this damage disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. People with MS may experience symptoms such as vision problems, numbness, weakness, balance difficulties, fatigue, and problems with memory or concentration.
MS affects millions of people worldwide and is one of the most common neurological diseases in young adults. Although treatments have improved greatly over the past two decades, there is still no cure.
One of the biggest challenges is that MS is often diagnosed only after damage has already occurred inside the nervous system. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may have been developing silently for years.
Because of this, researchers have been searching for ways to identify people who are at high risk before symptoms begin. Detecting the disease earlier could allow doctors to monitor patients more closely and possibly start treatment before significant damage occurs.
A new study led by researchers at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, known as The Neuro, has taken an important step toward that goal. The research, published in the journal Annals of Neurology on May 22, 2026, identified a group of blood proteins that appear to change years before a person is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The study was led by neurologist and researcher Dr. Adil Harroud and his colleagues. The team focused on proteins, which are essential molecules that help carry out most functions in the human body. Proteins are involved in communication between cells, immune responses, growth, repair, and countless other biological processes.
Scientists have increasingly turned to proteins as possible disease markers because changes in protein levels can provide clues about what is happening inside the body long before symptoms develop.
To search for potential MS warning signs, the researchers examined more than 2,500 blood proteins. Using advanced genetic and statistical methods, they looked for proteins that appeared to influence a person’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Their analysis identified 39 proteins that were linked to MS risk. Many of these proteins were involved in communication pathways used by immune cells. This finding fits with what scientists already know about MS as an immune-related disease.
However, the researchers wanted to know whether these proteins could actually be detected years before diagnosis. To answer this question, they turned to the UK Biobank, one of the world’s largest and most valuable health databases.
The UK Biobank collected blood samples and health information from approximately 500,000 volunteers across the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010. Researchers have continued to follow these participants for many years, creating a unique opportunity to study diseases before they develop.
Among these participants, 124 individuals eventually received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This allowed the researchers to examine blood samples that had been collected years before the disease was identified.
The results were striking. The team found that eight proteins were already altered in blood samples taken before diagnosis. In some cases, these changes were present more than a decade before MS was officially detected.
One protein attracted particular attention. Known as DKKL1, it appeared to be linked to both a lower risk of developing MS and a milder disease course among people who eventually developed the condition. This means DKKL1 could potentially serve two important roles. It might help identify people at risk and also provide information about how severe the disease may become.
The researchers compare this approach to cholesterol testing in heart disease. Doctors routinely measure cholesterol levels to identify people who may be at higher risk of heart attacks years before any symptoms occur. Similarly, blood proteins could someday help identify individuals who are at increased risk of developing MS.
According to Dr. Harroud, early intervention is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes in multiple sclerosis. Treatments started early in the disease process can often delay disability and reduce long-term damage. The challenge has been finding the right people before symptoms appear.
The findings suggest that blood-based screening may eventually become possible. However, more research is still needed before such tests can be used in clinical practice. The team plans to study larger groups of people and determine whether these protein markers can be combined with genetic information and other risk factors to create reliable screening tools.
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Source: McGill University.
