MS Neurological Disease

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin, a protective fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers. Hardening of this tissue, or sclerosis, can occur when the myelin is damaged, giving the condition its name.

Cause

• Nerve impulses between the brain and spinal cord are disrupted when either the myelin sheath or its encapsulated nerve fiber is damaged, resulting in the symptoms of MS.

Symptoms

• Symptoms associated with MS can include blurry or double vision, color distortion between red and green, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, pain, coordination and balance problems, and occasionally, paralysis. Other symptoms may include numbness and prickling sensations, speech problems, tremors, dizziness, hearing loss, and cognitive problems.

Risk Factors

• Factors that increase the risk of developing MS include being between the ages of 20 and 50, being female, and being a Caucasian of European descent.

Statistics

• According to the National MS Society, around 400,000 people in the United States have MS. Globally, MS is believed to affect as many as 2.5 million people.

Prognosis

• A majority of patients with MS are mildly affected, but in severe cases, MS progresses toward disability. Since MS is a disease that tends to remit and recur spontaneously, there is no cure. However, with proper medication and therapeutic help, people with this neurological disease can lead very satisfying lives.