multiple sclerosis
a disease of the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD that affects the MYELIN sheaths of NERVES and disrupts their function. It usually affect people below the age of 40, and its cause is unknown but is the subject of much research. The disease is characterized by the presence of patches of hardened (sclerotic) CONNECTIVE TISSUE irregulary scattered through the brain and spinal cord. At first the fatty part of the nerve sheaths breaks down and is absorbed, leaving bare nerve fibres, and then connective tissue is laid down. Symptoms depend on the site of the patches in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM , and the disease is characterized by periods of progression and REMISSION . However, they include unsteady gait and apparent clumsiness, tremor of the limbs, involuntary eye movements, speech disorders, bladder dysfunction and paralysis. This disease can progress very slowly, but generally there is a tendency for the paralysis to become more marked.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include:
- Visual disturbances
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble with coordination and balance
- Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or "pins and needles"
- Thinking and memory problems
No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak, or walk.
There is no specific test for MS. Doctors use a medical history, physical exam, neurological exam, MRI, and other tests to diagnose it. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
multiple-sclerosis