The 2D:4D ratio, a proxy for prenatal androgen levels, differs in men with and without MS

Bove, Riley; Malik, Muhammed T.; Díaz-Cruz, Camilo; Chua, Alicia; Saraceno, Taylor; Bargiela, David; Greeke, Emily; Glanz, Bonnie I.; Healy, Brian C.; Chitnis, Tanuja

doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000001990

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…Since most of daily living activities are the main indicators of independence and are associated with manual dexterity, the patient can increase hand grip strengh by appropriate exercise and muscle strengthening movements to improve the quality of life and reduce EDSS level. In this study it was found that the 2D: 4D ratio was not related to the intensity (level) of disease in females suffering MS which is consistent with the research by Bove et al (2015) which was conducted on men suffering MS and found that the 2D: 4D ratio was higher in MS patients than the without MS group and this ratio is not associated with age and testosterone level in adults or clinical characteristics of MS. Disorders of the immune system which is separated into two branches of humoral and Cellular immunity can result in autoimmune diseases.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Relationship of 2D:4D Ratio and Hand Grip Strength to the Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis

Arazi¹,

Olia²,

Nafissi³

et al. 2018

J. Anthr. Sport Phis. Educ.

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Regarding the muscular weakness in patients with Multiple and the importance of the 2nd digit to 4th digit (2D:4D) ratio as a representative of the androgen level in women, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between level of physical activity, handgrip strength and 2D:4D ratio with the incidence of multiple sclerosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 female patients with average age of 35.01 years, BMI 24.04 kg/m 2 and disability development scale of Kurtzke (EDSS) equal to 8.5-0 among the patients of Shariati, Imam Hossein and Rasul Akram hospitals in Tehran in time intervals of December 2015 to June 2016. Hand grip strength variables were measured using the dynamometer, the 2D:4D ratio was measured with a digital calliper and the participants' physical activity were measured using the Beck physical activity questionnaire and EDSS of patients was determined by a Neurologist. The study data was analysed using statistical methods of Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis. There was a signifi cant relationship between the physical activity level and EDSS (P<0.01) and the handgrip strength with the EDSS level (P<0.05) in MS patients. However, there was no signifi cant relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and EDSS level. Based on these results, it seems that, the increase of physical activity level and the hand grip strength is associated with a reduced level of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis. Therefore, it is recommended to prescribe an exercise program which is in accordance with MS patients' condition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The Relationship of 2D:4D Ratio and Hand Grip Strength to the Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis

Arazi¹,

Olia²,

Nafissi³

et al. 2018

J. Anthr. Sport Phis. Educ.

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“…25 This sexually dimorphic ratio can be considered as a lifelong signature of prenatal hormonal levels: a higher ratio has been shown to be associated with a lower in utero balance of androgens to estrogen. In a cohort of 120 men with MS, we found a lowered 2D:4D ratio in men with MS compared to controls, reflecting lowered prenatal testosterone levels and supporting a role for lowered testosterone as a risk factor for MS. 26 …”

Section: Ms Risk-testosterone In the Prenatal Periodmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of testosterone in MS risk and course

Chitnis

2018

Mult Scler

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Abstract:There is significant animal model data demonstrating a benefit of testosterone on both inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms relevant to multiple sclerosis (MS). Several studies have demonstrated lowered testosterone levels in up to 40% of men with MS. Lower testosterone levels were correlated with worsened scores of physical and cognitive disability. There is increasing data suggesting a role of testosterone in MS risk. A pilot study has demonstrated significant benefits of testosterone replacement therapy on cognitive, radiological, and immunological outcome measures in men with MS. Larger studies in other conditions have demonstrated concerns in terms of cardiovascular risk, which indicate the need for careful monitoring upon administration to MS patients. Further studies are needed to develop safer testosterone preparations, which preserve its multiple beneficial effects, as well as multicenter clinical trials to evaluate safety, dosing, and efficacy in larger populations of men with MS. Additionally, studies are needed to further explore the role of androgens as a risk factor for MS, particularly at key life transitions.

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“…If MS risk is influenced by developmental exposures, then the prenatal and perinatal periods should play a particularly large role in shaping more proximal myelin development, but also in programming lifelong proinflammatory trajectories and myelin regulation. For example, prenatal hormone levels have been associated with MS risk [ 135 , 136 ] and most convincingly, low prenatal levels of the hormone vitamin D [ 137 ], which may set the stage for development and intergenerational immunologic changes [ 138 , 139 ]. Similarly, maternal adiposity, whose effects on offspring immune trajectories could result from metabolic programming of growth trajectories or the timing of puberty, is also beginning to show an association with MS [ 140 ].…”

Section: Theoretical Framework Initial Findings and Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why monkeys do not get multiple sclerosis (spontaneously)

Bove

2018

Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health

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The goal of this review is to apply an evolutionary lens to understanding the origins of multiple sclerosis (MS), integrating three broad observations. First, only humans are known to develop MS spontaneously. Second, humans have evolved large brains, with characteristically large amounts of metabolically costly myelin. This myelin is generated over long periods of neurologic development—and peak MS onset coincides with the end of myelination. Third, over the past century there has been a disproportionate increase in the rate of MS in young women of childbearing age, paralleling increasing westernization and urbanization, indicating sexually specific susceptibility in response to changing exposures. From these three observations about MS, a life history approach leads us to hypothesize that MS arises in humans from disruption of the normal homeostatic mechanisms of myelin production and maintenance, during our uniquely long myelination period. This review will highlight under-explored areas of homeostasis in brain development, that are likely to shed new light on the origins of MS and to raise further questions about the interactions between our ancestral genes and modern environments.

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The 2D:4D ratio, a proxy for prenatal androgen levels, differs in men with and without MS

Cited by 15 publications

References 35 publications

The Relationship of 2D:4D Ratio and Hand Grip Strength to the Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis

The Relationship of 2D:4D Ratio and Hand Grip Strength to the Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis

The role of testosterone in MS risk and course

Why monkeys do not get multiple sclerosis (spontaneously)

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