Obesity as a Driver of Inflammation and Brain Volume Loss in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis.
Obesity is one possible contributor to severity of multiple sclerosis and progression of the disease. We already know that obesity is a risk determinant for acquiring MS, yet the impact of obesity on pediatric MS disease expression and course is unknown. This study will evaluate the relationship between obesity, obesity-derived inflammatory mediators, and imaging metrics of MS severity in children. Understanding how childhood obesity contributes to MS severity/progression may yield fundamental insights into disease pathobiology - which may thereby lead to effective strategies for halting its progression in its earliest stages.
• Ability to provide informed consent (or assent for minors)
• Relapsing-remitting MS diagnosis per 2017 McDonald criteria
• Ages ≥ 10 years to ≤ 20 years
• Diagnosis of MS or first clinical symptom of MS (whichever comes first) within ≤ 36 months from the time of enrollment.
• Ability to provide informed consent (or assent for minors)
• Age-, sex-, \& BMI-matched to pediatric MS subjects (1:1 allocation)
• Healthy children and young adults from the local communities