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 Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). MS is an inflammatory demyelination condition. Myelin is a fatty material that insulates nerves, acting much like the covering of an electric wire and allowing the nerve to transmit its impulses rapidly. It is the speed and efficiency with which these impulses are conducted that permits smooth, rapid and co-ordinated movements to be performed with little conscious effort.
In multiple sclerosis, the loss of myelin (demyelination) is accompanied by a disruption in the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain and this produces the various symptoms of MS. The sites where myelin is lost (plaques or lesions) appear as hardened (scar) areas: in multiple sclerosis these scars appear at different times and in different areas of the brain and spinal cord. The term multiple sclerosis means, literally, many scars.
Quick Facts
- MS is a progressive disease of the nervous system, for which there is no cure.
- An estimated 2,500,000 people in the world have MS.
- More women than men have MS, with a ratio of 2 men to 3 women affected.
- MS is the most common diseases of the central nervous system in young adults.
- There are four types of MS: benign, relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive.
- Sclerosis means scars, these are the plaques or lesions in the brain and spinal cord.
- In MS, the protective myelin covering of the nerve fibres in the central nervous system is damaged.
- Inflammation and ultimate loss of myelin causes disruption to nerve transmission and affects many functions of the body.
- While the exact cause of MS is not known, much is known about its effect on immune system function which may be the ultimate cause of the disease.
- MS is not directly hereditary, although genetic susceptibility plays a part in its development.
- MS is not contagious.
- Diagnosis of MS is generally between 20 and 40 years of age, although onset may be earlier.
- MS is rarely diagnosed under 12 and over 55 years of age.
- Life span is not significantly affected by MS.
- There are a wide range of symptoms. Fatigue is one of the most common.
- The incidence of MS increases in countries further from the equator.
- There is no drug that can cure MS, but treatments are now available which can modify the course of the disease.
- Many of the symptoms of MS can be successfully managed and treated.
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