People who drink coffee may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests.

MS is Ireland's most common disabling neurological condition, affecting around 8,000 people here. It is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which causes a gradual degeneration of the nerves. This results in a progressive deterioration in various functions controlled by the nervous system, such as vision, speech and movement.

Previous studies have indicated that coffee reduces the risk of certain conditions such as Parkinson's disease, so Swedish researchers set out to assess any similar links with MS.

They looked at over 2,700 people with MS and almost 4,000 people without the condition in Sweden and the US. The coffee consumption of all the participants was considered. In the case of those with MS, consumption was assessed between one and 10 years prior to when their symptoms begin.

The study found that people who did not drink coffee were 1.5 times more likely to develop MS compared to those who consumed between four and six cups per day.

"Caffeine intake has been associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and our study shows that coffee intake may also protect against MS, supporting the idea that the drug may have protective effects for the brain," said the study's author, Dr Ellen Mowry, a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

She added that coffee should also be studied for ‘its impact on relapses and long-term disability in MS as well'.

Details of these findings are to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, in April.