An epidemiological survey on multiple sclerosis (MS) was carried out in the two northernmost counties of Norway. It was based on personal investigation of the patients by the author and covered the 20-year period 1953–1972. Prevalence ratios of 20.0 and 21.3/100,000 for men and women, respectively, were found on January 1, 1973. The average annual incidence rate was 1.8/100,000 population. MS could be demonstrated in 6.8% of close relatives. It was thought likely that environmental, rather than genetic, geo-climatic, or nutritional factors could account for the marked differences in prevalence and incidence of MS in other coastal areas along the North Atlantic.
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Annika Graaf (2008) studied this question.