PARENTAL ANCESTRY AND RISK OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS IN ALBERTA, CANADA

Self-reported population ancestry data for the 19 census divisions (CD s) of Alberta, Canada, were correlated with multiple sclerosis (MS) pr evalence rates in those divisions, for men and women separately; and p arental ancestry was compared between a group of MS patients and contr ols attending the University of Alberta MS Clinic. At the CD level, th ere was a positive correlation between single Scandinavian ancestry an d MS prevalence in men, but this was not confirmed in the case control comparison. The case-control comparison indicated an excess risk of M S associated with single non-specific European as opposed to British a ncestry in men only. When paternal versus maternal ancestry was consid ered separately, there was an excess risk of MS associated with non-sp ecific European as opposed to British ancestry for both men and women, but on the father's side only. Aboriginal ancestry was negatively ass ociated with MS prevalence at the CD level in both men and women; and no MS patients with aboriginal origin were among cases assembled throu gh the MS clinic.