A recent study suggests that children diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life may experience fewer relapses if they were exposed to at least 30 minutes of daily summer sun during their first year. Published on February 12, 2025, in Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, the study highlights the potential link between early sun exposure and a reduced risk of disease activity for children with childhood-onset MS.
While the study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, it underscores an intriguing association. Additionally, the research found that if a child’s biological mother had a similar amount of sun exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy, the child’s risk of relapses was also lower.
“It’s important to practice sun safety, but previous research has shown that sun exposure is linked to a reduced risk of developing MS in childhood,” said Gina Chang, MD, MPH, a pediatric neurologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our study provides encouraging evidence that early sun exposure could also play a role in reducing MS relapses in affected children.”
The study involved 334 children and young adults, aged 4 to 21, with childhood-onset MS, sourced from 18 MS clinics across the U.S. Participants were within four years of their first MS symptoms, with a median follow-up time of 3.3 years. Researchers assessed sun exposure by having parents or guardians complete questionnaires about their child’s sun exposure, sunscreen use, and clothing choices during various life stages, including during pregnancy.
Of the 334 participants, 62% (206 children) experienced at least one MS relapse during the study. Relapses were defined as new or returning symptoms lasting for at least 24 hours, with at least 30 days between episodes and no fever or infection involved. The results revealed that children who received 30 minutes to an hour of daily sun exposure during their first year had a relapse rate of 45%, compared to a 65% relapse rate among those with less than 30 minutes of daily sun exposure.
When adjusting for factors such as tobacco exposure, season of birth, type of MS medication, and sun protection measures, the study found that children with 30 or more minutes of daily summer sun in their first year had a 33% lower risk of relapse than those with less exposure.
Additionally, the research explored the impact of maternal sun exposure. The study found that if a child’s biological mother had 30 minutes or more of daily sun exposure during her second trimester of pregnancy, the child had a 32% reduced risk of relapsing.
“Our findings suggest that early sun exposure may have long-term benefits for children diagnosed with MS,” Dr. Chang stated. “We hope future studies will explore how sun exposure during other periods, both before and after diagnosis, affects disease progression. This could inform recommendations for sun exposure in MS management and guide future clinical trials.”
However, the study has some limitations, including the reliance on parent-reported data, which may not always accurately reflect the participants’ actual sun exposure or use of sun protection.
As researchers continue to examine the link between sun exposure and MS, these findings offer new insights into potential preventative strategies for managing childhood-onset MS.
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