Multiple Sclerosis

What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is an unpredictable condition that can be relatively benign, disabling, or devastating. Some individuals with MS may be mildly affected while others may lose their ability to write, speak, or walk -- when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted.

What happens during an attack?

• Inflammation occurs in areas of the white matter of the central nervous system in random patches called plaques.

• This is followed by destruction of myelin, the fatty covering that insulates nerve cell fibers in the brain and spinal cord to assist the high-speed transmission of electrochemical messages between the brain, the spinal cord, and the rest of the body. When myelin is damaged, transmission of messages may be slowed or blocked completely.

• This leads to diminished or lost function.

What causes multiple sclerosis?
There are many possible causes of MS, including:

• viruses
• environmental factors
• genetic factors
• immune system factors
• other