Having insufficient and disturbed sleep during the teenage years may increase the subsequent risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study has shown. According to the study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, clocking up enough hours of restorative sleep while young may help to ward off the condition.

The researchers note that MS is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, including smoking, teenage weight (BMI), Epstein-Barr virus infection, sun exposure, and vitamin D. "Insufficient sleep and low sleep quality during adolescence seem to increase the risk of subsequently developing MS. Sufficient restorative sleep, needed for adequate immune functioning, may thus be another preventive factor against MS," said the researchers.