Adam Percey

What is it?  MS is a disease of the central nervous system.  What happens is the myelin sheaths around the axon of a nerve fade away. These myelin sheaths insulate the axon so the nerve impulse can travel faster. So when they myelin sheaths are gone the impulse travels slower and the nerves themselves get weak and die. A person suffering from MS often can’t walk, write, or speak.

Cause  The exact cause of MS is unknown.  However, it is believed that both genetics and the immune system play a role.

Immune system  The immune system protects the body from foreign invaders, but in MS it is believed that the body’s own immune system is mistaking a significant part of the body as an invader.  In MS the immune system is tricked into attacking the Myelin sheaths.  Causing extreme damage to the nerves.

Types of MS  Relapsing-Remitting The most common type, about 65%-80% cases. It happens in a series of attacks. Followed disappearance of the symptoms. Until another attack happens. It could be days to years between relapses.  Secondary- Progressive 50% of RR-MS individuals will develop this type of MS within 10 years. Relapses are rare but more disability accumulates.  Primary-Progressive 10%-20% of cases Continuous and gradual decline in a person's physical abilities.

Symptoms  Visual disturbances are the first symptom.  Off and on limb weakness, that gets more prevalent.  Muscle spasms, fatigue, numbness, and prickling.  Loss of sensation  Trouble speaking.  Tremors  Dizziness.

Treatment  The first thing to do before treatment is to set goals: Improving the speed of recovery from attacks Reducing the number of attacks or the number of MRI lesions Attempting to slow progression of the disease  Treat with steroid drugs  Treat with disease modifying drugs or DMDs.

Facts  In the US its estimated that 350,000 people have multiple sclerosis.  A person is Usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, but can be found in children  Multiple sclerosis affects Caucasians twice as much as any other group.  Women are also twice as likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis earlier in life.