Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption as a Key Role Problem in Multiple Sclerosis: A Novel Primary Prevention Strategy

Blood-barrier disruption is known to be a typical feature of Multiple Sclerosis. Such a vasal permeability let lymphocytes infiltration, with consequent central nervous system inflammation and demyelination. It has been demonstrated that blood-brain barrier disruption also occurs with aging and among pathology like Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Dysfunction. With this in mind, it is clear that such phenomenon is a common trait between very important and severe neurodegenerative diseases, letting happen neurological damages such as harmful cytokine diffusion within central nervous system and inlet of autoreactive immune cells. Interestingly, research about primary prevention of blood-brain barrier disruption is still lacking, so that the aim of this work is to propose a novel strategy to forestall this important etiological event. As it has been discussed throughout the paper, many risk factors have been identified, i.e. smoking habits, juvenile obesity, low vitamin D and oxidative stress. Since the above cited disorders onsets occurs at least after 20 years of age, a preventive strategy has been designed to be employed since the early childhood. Such plan includes eliminating smoking habits, the employment of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with vitamin D rich foods, introducing physical activity and the consumption of food containing antioxidants.