Exercise may not lower MS risk in women

Being physically active does not appear to protect women from developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

In an analysis of health data from more than 193,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II, senior author Kassandra Munger, research scientist at Harvard Chan School, and colleagues found a weak association between higher physical activity and reduced MS risk, but did not consider it statistically significant. Previous studies have found that exercise improves MS symptoms.

The study was published September 28, 2016 in Neurology.

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