What Are the Causes of Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects nearly 350,000 people across the country, according to the Cleveland Clinic. MS is an often chronic and disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is a combination of the spinal cord, brain and optic nerves. While there is no known cause or cure for MS, research continues at various institutions across the country to protect patients and to develop treatment plans.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of MS appear similar to symptoms of various other diseases and illnesses. The appearance of one or more symptoms does not mean a patient has MS, but they should seek medical advice. Most common are disturbances to the motor skills, such as slurred speech, muscle weakness and even paralysis. Sensory symptoms will appear as numbness or tingling of the limbs, facial pain and pain in other regions of the body without cause. Some patients suffer from cognitive symptoms that include depression, mood swings and even dementia.

Genetic Causes

• While there are no known causes for MS, research is making progress. There has been a genetic link shown that those with a first-degree relative who has MS have a 3 to 5 percent higher risk of developing MS, according to research completed at the Cleveland Clinic. The genetic link is still under extensive research, but previous studies have shown that MS involves the autoimmune process.
  The immune system has an abnormal response that is directed to myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds and protects nerve fibers in the CNS. These nerve fibers can be damaged resulting in myelin forming scar tissues.

Environmental Causes

• There are no direct links from any environmental factors to the development of MS, but a study by the Cleveland Clinic showed an increase in cases north and south of the equator. As of 2009, the reason for this was unknown, but a link in vitamin D levels causes researchers to question if sun exposure, or lack thereof, can be a risk factor.

Types

• MS is diagnosed in four different variations: relapse remitting, primary progressive, secondary regressive and progressive relapse. While these four variations of the disease do not occur in any order--nor do all patients progress from one to another--knowing the type of MS helps a physician treat the symptoms. Relapse remitting is the most common form of MS with nearly 85 percent of MS patients initially diagnosed with this type, according to the National MS Society. Patients have defined attacks or flare-ups of symptoms followed by a remission or recovery period.
  Primary progressive MS is a slow worsening of neurological functions from the onset of the disease. Secondary progressive MS has an initial period of relapsing remission MS but then develops into secondary progressive. The disease worsens at a steady pace. Progressive relapsing MS is a steady worsening of the disease and neurological functions from the onset along with defined attacks. Only 5 percent of MS cases are progressive relapsing MS, according to the National MS Society.

Treatment

• While there is not a cure for MS, there are treatment plans to alleviate symptoms and to attempt to postpone or reduce attacks or flare-ups. There are several medications available to treat flare-ups, to attempt to modify the disease course and to manage symptoms. Rebif, Avonex and Copaxone are popular medications to treat the symptoms of MS, but they are not a cure.