| You may have heard about the disease normally | | | | (accumulative) and relapsing (discrete) forms. |
| known as Multiple Sclerosis - but what is it and what | | | | Symptoms may disappear completely between |
| causes it? | | | | attacks but permanent neurological issues tend to |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory | | | | persist, particularly as the disease advances. |
| disease affecting the central nervous system. First | | | | The cause of MS is unknown, despite much being |
| described by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1868, | | | | known about the actual way the disease works upon |
| MS(formerly known as disseminated sclerosis) is | | | | the human body. The general opinion is that it is |
| more common in women than in men and typically | | | | caused by attacks by the immune system upon the |
| affects - depending on country and actual population | | | | body's own nervous system. Other theories claim |
| - between 2 and 150 people per 100,000. The disease | | | | that it is metabolically dependent whilst still others |
| usually has its onset in early adulthood. | | | | cite a virus as the cause. Still others claim that, as MS |
| The disease affects the 'white matter' of the brain. | | | | is almost unknown in tropical regions it may be |
| Cells in white matter - present in the brain and spinal | | | | caused by a lack of vitamin D in childhood. |
| cord - carry signals for processing to 'grey matter' | | | | Sadly, there is no cure -yet! - for Multiple Sclerosis |
| areas and also between these areas and the rest of | | | | and treatments tend to focus on returning function |
| the body. MS affects the neurons in the white | | | | and mobility after an attack, the prevention of |
| matter - specifically destroying the cells known as | | | | further attacks and the avoidance of disability. Many |
| 'oligodendrocytes' that are cells responsible for | | | | patients pursue 'alternative medicine' remedies, |
| creating the 'myelin sheath' - a fatty layer that | | | | despite there being little evidence of effectiveness. |
| assists the neurons in the carrying of electrical signals. | | | | The expected course of the disease (prognosis) |
| The effect of the disease thins or destroys the | | | | depends on exactly which type of the disease is |
| myelin, though it can also cut the neuron's extensions | | | | present, initial symptoms, individual characteristics and |
| or 'axons'. With loss of the myelin, the neurons | | | | degrees of disability experienced or likely to be |
| cannot continue to effectively transmit their electrical | | | | tolerated by the sufferer. The life expectancy of |
| signals, giving rise to the symptoms of the disease. | | | | people with MS is, however, virtually identical with |
| The name 'Multiple Sclerosis' actually refers to plaques | | | | healthy, unaffected people and in many cases a |
| or lesions in the white matter - also called scleroses | | | | near-normal life is possible. |
| (scars). The loss of myelin in scarred regions cause | | | | If for any reason you suspect that you may be |
| some of the symptoms of the disease, which vary | | | | affected by Multiple Sclerosis, a visit to your doctor |
| widely depending on just which signals are interrupted | | | | or specialist is of paramount importance - if indeed |
| or lost. | | | | you do have this illness, early diagnosis is immensely |
| MS appears in several forms, including progressive | | | | important to your future well-being. |