Multiple Sclerosis Overview
Learn about MS, Its Symptoms, and Current Medications
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. It also tends to strike women more than men. Learn more....
What Exactly is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disorder that is believed to be autoimmune in nature. The body's own immune system, for reasons unknown, attacks the myelin or protective covering of the nerves of individuals who are afflicted with MS. Only the central nervous system, or nerves within the brain and spinal cord, are affected, but these damaged nerves can send scrambled messages to all parts of the body. More alarming is when nerves are so damaged that NO messages can be sent, hence making certain body parts unusable.
MS Demographics
Doctors are currently trying to make connections to different reasons why some people develop this neurological illness and are considering genetic, environmental, or even possible viral links as contributing factors. Currently, researchers can trace patterns of increased cases of MS to individuals who live in cooler, more temperate climates, and have noticed that the closer a person lives to the equator, the less likely they will be to contract the disease. Although there is no conclusive genetic link, siblings and particularly identical twins have the greatest chance of developing multiple sclerosis if another sibling already has the disease. Doctors are also investigating the possibility of people contracting MS if they suffered from a certain viral infection at a younger age. Finally, there appears to be a gender preference as women are more likely than men to develop multiple sclerosis; however, the disease has been known to affect men more severely.
MS Symptoms
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include numbness and/or tingling in different areas of the body, pain, burning sensations, muscle aches and /or spasticity, bladder and bowel problems, weakness, dizziness, difficulty with speech and swallowing, visual difficulties (double or blurred vision), complete loss of vision (optic neuritis), tremors, unsteady gait, and the inability to walk. What is so perplexing about these symptoms is that they can fluctuate in severity or completely disappear throughout the day or throughout a person's life. On the contrary, some symptoms can introduce themselves and make a permanent stay.
Types of MS
The patterns for multiple sclerosis tend to fall into one of four categories. The first, relapsing/remitting, is the most common form at onset. There are attacks on the nerves (relapses), then the body recuperates (remittance.) Nevertheless, damage from these attacks is cumulative, and disability can increase as a person suffers more attacks. Secondary progressive MS can emerge after years of the relapsing/remitting variety (although not always), and is characterized by a steady decline with no more attacks or recoveries. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis is characterized by a continual decline from the onset of the disease. Finally, relapsing/ progressive MS seems to exhibit occasional flare-ups while all along the progression is continuous.
MS Treatments and Prospects
Current treatments for multiple sclerosis include disease-modifying drugs, such as Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, and Rebif. These medications are taken as injections and are known to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis. Certain types of steroids are used on patients with serious relapses in order to stop inflammation and damage to nerves. Novantrone, another disease-modifying drug, is used in worsening MS cases when use of the above ABC drugs fail to show results. Prospects include a future oral medication, the reintroduction of the intravenous drug Tysabri, and possible stem-cell remedies. A cure is thought to be around the corner, and with so many new medications created in just the past ten years, this seems like a definite possibility.
References: Nat'l MS Society, WebMD
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