About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition characterized by a malfunctioning immune system, which attacks the central nervous system rather than relaying correct messages. The "white matter" of the brain and spinal cord, which is responsible for relaying messages and information from the brain to the body, is made up of neurons that convey electrical signals, and MS deteriorates the myelin sheath of these neurons, resulting in physical and cognitive deterioration. Symptoms of MS can either be relapsing, which means that they come and go and vary in strength, or they can be progressive, which means that the patient experiences a continual and consistent progression of symptoms.

The Facts

• Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder discovered by Jean-Martin Charcot, a French neurologist, in 1868. Prior to that time, the symptoms of MS had been documented by both sufferers and physicians, but Charcot was the first to qualify it as a specific disease. Much more is now known about multiple sclerosis, and although there is no cure for the disease, advancements in biomedical science and pharmacology has ensured that patients can live a much better quality of life.

Identification

• The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary depending on the patient, and can range from mild to severe during different stages of the illness. Ataxia, which describes problems with coordination, and dysarthria, which refers to speech problems, are the most common of the symptoms. However, patients with MS might also experience neuropathic pain, fatigue, incontinence, paroxysmal spasms, muscle weakness, failing vision, difficulty swallowing and cognitive impairment. Depression is common among MS sufferers.

Time Frame

• Most people begin to present with symptoms of multiple sclerosis during their late teens or early twenties, and the prevalence is stronger in women than in men. In many cases, MS first presents with mild symptoms, most of which are episodic and will disappear for days at a time. In rare cases, cognitive decline will begin immediately, and neurological deterioration progresses with startling speed.

Geography

• According to the University of Utah, the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis is much more specific than that of other autoimmune conditions. The prevalence of MS is more heavily concentrated in the United States, northern Europe and Australia, while incidence in equatorial areas is practically non-existent. This lends credibility to the notion that MS is caused largely by environmental factors, though researchers believe that genetics are involved in a predisposition toward the disease.

Significance

• There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, which means that treatment involves only management of the symptoms rather than eradication of the disease. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, most people who suffered from MS died by the age of 40, but increased response to new treatment options means that patients today can live full lives. The physical symptoms, such as ataxia, are manageable, but the cognitive deterioration is the most difficult obstacle to surpass. Loss of memory, inability to form clear thoughts and depression are most common, and many patients struggle with these symptoms.