Introduction

Nutrition and environment have become major factors in our quest for understanding Multiple Sclerosis. Their epigenetic effects now have been clearly demonstrated..

We begin to realize that Multiple Sclerosis has its beginnings during the gestational and postnatal environment, during the development of the immune system at certain latitudes, hygienic and sun exposure.We also can now implement the effects of a vitamin D deficiency pandemic.

Such developments lead to the question how much of the genetic background could be influenced by a set of health care measures, that may strongly reduce the risk of Multiple Sclerosis and influence its course.

Environmental pollution, nutritional fausses routes, and life style abnormalities may carry the brunt of Multiple Sclerosis development.

That should not draw our attention away from new treatments that are on the brink of being available on the market and that have brought new insights in immunology and pathology.

A symposium is a living organism. All participants should actively engage themselves.To make your task attractive we have assembled reputed researchers as platform speakers.

Those participants who have material of high importance for the Symposium may use the Poster Sessions.

We are very happy to have as this year's European Charcot Foundation Lecturer Prof. Alberto Ascherio, a leading figure in Multiple Sclerosis epidemiology.

O.R. Hommes
Chairman
European Charcot Foundation