Spatial Analysis of Multiple Sclerosis
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Keywords
spatial analysis
Biography
Born in Portage, Pennsylvania. Former member of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Track and Field team. Enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking. After graduation hopes to begin a career in GIS.
Major
Geography
Advisor for this project
Dr. Kozar
Abstract
Approximately 750,000 people in the United States is living with Multiple Sclerosis. Women are twice as likely to develop MS than men. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. The myelin sheath that covers nerves is attacked by the body’s own immune system leading to deterioration of the nerves sometimes resulting in permanent damage. Demographic factors like genetics and migration studies as well as socioeconomic factors such as vitamin D levels, home latitude and the Epstein-Barr Virus all play a role in developing Multiple Sclerosis and it’s skewed geographical pattern. Secondary data analysis was used to investigate the uneven spatial trends of Multiple Sclerosis in the United States. Most Multiple Sclerosis cases are in the Northern half of the United States. Vitamin D deficiency and the latitude where you were raised seem to have the largest impact on whether you will develop Multiple Sclerosis or not. There is a posterity in data of whether Vitamin D deficiency is linked to certain genetic makeups. Future studies should incorporate that because that would settle the debate between demographic and socioeconomic factors having the larger influence.
Spatial Analysis of Multiple Sclerosis
Approximately 750,000 people in the United States is living with Multiple Sclerosis. Women are twice as likely to develop MS than men. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. The myelin sheath that covers nerves is attacked by the body’s own immune system leading to deterioration of the nerves sometimes resulting in permanent damage. Demographic factors like genetics and migration studies as well as socioeconomic factors such as vitamin D levels, home latitude and the Epstein-Barr Virus all play a role in developing Multiple Sclerosis and it’s skewed geographical pattern. Secondary data analysis was used to investigate the uneven spatial trends of Multiple Sclerosis in the United States. Most Multiple Sclerosis cases are in the Northern half of the United States. Vitamin D deficiency and the latitude where you were raised seem to have the largest impact on whether you will develop Multiple Sclerosis or not. There is a posterity in data of whether Vitamin D deficiency is linked to certain genetic makeups. Future studies should incorporate that because that would settle the debate between demographic and socioeconomic factors having the larger influence.
