People with May birthdays may have a greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis than those born during other times of the year, according to British researchers. Specifically, a newborn’s immune system development, vitamin D levels and risk for multiple sclerosis may be influenced by the month of birth. It’s not only multiple sclerosis that has a link to birth month. Scientists have also found a link between the month in which you were born and a predisposition to Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and diabetes. The results:

• The May babies’ vitamin D levels were 20 percent lower than the November babies.
• May babies’ blood had roughly double the level of potentially harmful autoreactive T-cells than did the blood of the November babies.
• Since higher levels of autoreactive T-cells have the ability to turn against the body, May babies appear to have a higher risk of developing MS later in life.

While the study uncovered an association linking birth month to vitamin D levels and MS risk, it did not prove cause-and-effect.