Where does multiple sclerosis come from?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is not a new disease. The likely first case described is that of Saint Lidwina of Shiedham (1380 -1433), who had episodes of visual disturbances, balance difficulties and progressively lost her ability to walk until she died at age 53 (Medaer, 1979). While the ascertainment and probable incidence of MS has been steadily increasing over the past 50-60 years in Norway, Australia (Grytten et al., 2016, Ribbons et al., 2017) and other countries, little is known about the prevalence of MS before this time.