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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
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Although Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was first diagnosed in 1849, the earliest known description of a person with possible Multiple Sclerosis (MS) dates from fourteenth century Holland. An unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.
The vast majority of patients are mildly affected, but in the worst cases Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can render a person unable to write, speak, or walk. A physician can diagnose Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in some patients soon after the onset of the illness. In others, however, physicians may not be able to readily identify the cause of the symptoms, leading to years of uncertainty and multiple diagnoses punctuated by baffling symptoms that mysteriously wax and wane.
Once a diagnosis is made with confidence, patients must consider a profusion of information and misinformation associated with this complex disease. This brochure is designed to convey the latest information on the diagnosis, course, and possible treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as well as highlights of current research. Although a pamphlet cannot substitute for the advice and expertise of a physician, it can provide patients and their families with information to understand Multiple Sclerosis (MS) better so that they can actively participate in their care and treatment.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
During an Multiple Sclerosis (MS) attack, inflammation occurs in areas of the white matter of the central nervous system in random patches called plaques. This process is followed by destruction of myelin, the fatty covering that insulates nerve cell fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin facilitates the smooth, high-speed transmission of electrochemical messages between the brain, the spinal cord, and the rest of the body - when it is damaged, neurological transmission of messages may be slowed or blocked completely, leading to diminished or lost function. The name "multiple sclerosis" signifies both the number (multiple) and condition (sclerosis, from the Greek term for scarring or hardening) of the demyelinated areas in the central nervous system.
How Many People Have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
No one knows exactly how many people have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is believed that, currently, there are approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosed by a physician. This estimate suggests that approximately 200 new cases are diagnosed each week.
Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Most people experience their first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) between the ages of 20 and 40, but a diagnosis is often delayed. This is due to both the transitory nature of the disease and the lack of a specific diagnostic test-specific symptoms and changes in the brain must develop before the diagnosis is confirmed.
Although scientists have documented cases of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in young children and elderly adults, symptoms rarely begin before age 15 or after age 60. Whites are more than twice as likely as other races to develop Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In general, women are affected at almost twice the rate of men, however, among patients who develop the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at a later age, the gender ratio is more balanced.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is five times more prevalent in temperate climates - such as those found in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe - than in tropical regions. Furthermore, the age of 15 seems to be significant in terms of risk for developing the disease - some studies indicate that a person moving from a high-risk (temperate) to a low-risk (tropical) area before the age of 15 tends to adopt the risk (in this case, low) of the new area and vice versa. Other studies suggest that people moving after age 15 maintain the risk of the area where they grew up.
These findings indicate a strong role for an environmental factor in the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is possible that, at the time of or immediately following puberty, patients acquire an infection with a long latency period. Or, conversely, people in some areas may come in contact with an unknown protective agent during the time before puberty. Other studies suggest that the unknown geographic or climatic element may actually be simply a matter of genetic predilection and reflect racial and ethnic susceptibility factors.
Periodically, scientists receive reports of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) "clusters." The most famous of these Multiple Sclerosis (MS) "epidemics" took place in the Faeroe Islands north of Scotland in the years following the arrival of British troops during World War II. Despite intense study of this and other clusters, no direct environmental factor has been identified. Nor has any definitive evidence been found to link daily stress to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) attacks, although there is evidence that the risk of worsening is greater after acute viral illnesses.
How Much Does Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cost America?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic (life long) disease diagnosed primarily in young adults who have a virtually normal life expectancy. Consequently, the economic, social, and medical costs associated with the disease are significant. Estimates place the annual cost of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the United States in the billions of dollars.
What Causes Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Scientists have learned a great deal about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in recent years, still, its cause remains elusive. Many investigators believe Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to be an autoimmune disease - one in which the body, through its immune system, launches a defensive attack against its own tissues. In the case of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), it is the nerve-insulating myelin that comes under assault. Such assaults may be linked to an unknown environmental trigger, perhaps a virus.
Page 1 What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Page 2 The Immune System
Page 3 Genetics
Page 4 What is the Course of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Page 5 Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Page 6 How is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Diagnosed?
Page 7 Can Multiple Sclerosis (MS) be Treated?
Page 8 Immunotherapy
Page 9 Therapy
Page 10 Are Any Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms Treatable?
Page 11 Recent Advances Made in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research
References:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke(NINDS)
National Institutes of Health
January 23, 2008
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm
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