Invited Presentations Invited Abstracts

PS08.02 - Mendelian Randomization in MS

Speakers
  • B. Richards
Authors
  • B. Richards
Presentation Number
PS08.02
Presentation Topic
Invited Presentations
Lecture Time
13:00 - 13:15

Abstract

Abstract

Traditional epidemiological observational studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be biased by confounding, which occurs when there is a common cause of the exposure and the outcome. Further, given the insidious onset of the disease, measuring the exposure prior to the date of diagnosis, does not guarantee against reverse causation, where the outcome directly influences the exposure. An established method to overcome these issues is Mendelian randomization (MR).

In this invited talk, I will discuss recent advances in MR and how they can improve causal inference in the field of MS. Specifically, I will draw upon studies from our group and others that have used MR to shed light on factors that likely influence predisposion to MS. I will discuss new and emerging methods in the field of MR and focus upon proper reporting of MS studies to ensure that they can be interpreted and applied by clinicians.

I will review recent studies in the field of MS, which use GWAS and emerging sequencing studies to better understand the causal pathways that influence this disease.

In this invited talk, I will discuss results from recent MR studies and provide practical tips on the implementation of such studies in the field of MS.

MR studies can make important contributions to our understanding of the causes of MS and in some cases can help to prioritize randomized controlled trials, as well as provide causal inference information when such trials are not impossible of unethical. Taken together, the findings from recent MR studies in MS have helped to disentangle multiple controversies in the field and help to provide orthogonal lines of evidence to test long-standing hypothesis in the field.

Collapse