1. Disease of the Central Nervous System By Eric Nauman
Multiple Sclerosis
Disease of the Central Nervous System
By Eric Nauman

2. Multiple Sclerosis MS affects the Central Nervous System
Immune System malfunctions and attacks myelin
Becomes inflamed and detaches from nerve cells
Glial cells that produce myelin are also destroyed
Scar tissue develops where myelin has been removed
The scar tissue is called sclerosis
Sclerosis forms on multiple areas of CNS

3. Central Nervous System
Contains the brain and spinal cord
Nerve cells are called neurons
Neurons are made up of cell body and axons
Axons are long extensions of the cell body
Transmit impulses and are covered by myelin sheath
Nerve impulse
Action Potential
Nodes of Ranvier

4. Georgia State University Department of Biology
Nerve Cell
Georgia State University Department of Biology

5. Myelin
Creates a sheath around the axons of cells in the nervous system
Made of 80% lipids and 20% proteins
Myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes or glial cells
Glial cells make up 90% of the cells in CNS while nerve cells make up remaining 10%

7. Function of Myelin Myelin Insulates the nerves
Acts as the insulation on wires
Contains ions of the action potential and preserves the impulse
Increases speed of nerve impulses
Myelinated axons transmit impulses up to 60 times faster than non-myelinated
Losing myelin is like stripping the insulation off an electrical wire

8. Immune System Immune system is made to attack myelin
Immune response is driven by a type of white blood cell called a Lymphocyte
Thymic or T-Lymphocytes
Helper T-Lymphocytes
Cytolytic T-Lymphocytes
Suppressor T-Lymphocytes
B-Lymphocytes
antibodies
altmed.creighton.edu

9. Autoimmune Responses
Properly functioning immune system must be able to distinguish self from non-self
In multiple sclerosis the immune system is used to attack cells of the body
Autoimmune Response- an immune response by the body to its own tissues
Leads into autoimmune disease
Becomes self sustaining
Causes structural and functional damage to the body

10. What Causes Autoimmune Response?
The Causes are unknown but there are many theories
Malfunctioning immune system caused by genetics
Infection by a microorganism
Infection by a virus
Others believe a combination of several
Viral infection early in life leads to genetic mutation and immune malfunction

11. Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is thought to be genetically related
Genes affect risk and course disease takes
Entire genome screened
60 genomeric regions related to MS
Chromosome 6 is thought to be linked to MS

12. Statistics
300,000 Americans and 2.5 million people around the world have multiple sclerosis
Caucasians are more at risk than other races
More common in temperate climates
Women are 3 times more likely to develop MS
Symptoms begin showing ages 20 to 40
Relatives of MS patients are at higher risk
MS is not directly inherited from parent to child

13. Types of Multiple Sclerosis
Relapsing Remitting
85% of patients have this form
Flare ups followed by periods of recovery
Primary Progressive
Slow and steady progression of symptoms
Recovery periods are rare
Progressive Relapsing
One of the most aggressive forms of MS
Steady worsening of Symptoms
Secondary Progressive
Half of patients with relapsing remitting will develop this type within 10 years
Steady Progression of Symptoms

14. Symptoms Early symptoms of MS include: Later symptoms include:
Numbness in 1 or more limbs
Partial paralysis
Double or blurred vision in 1 eye
Later symptoms include:
Loss of coordination
Loss of ability to walk or stand upright
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Mental symptoms:
Depression, Forgetfulness, Loss of Concentration

15. Diagnosis Multiple Sclerosis is hard to diagnose
There are no definitive lab tests for MS
MRI and examination of cerebrospinal fluid
Poser Criteria for diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
Bases on laboratory tests and evidence of flare ups and attacks
4 criteria
Clinically definite MS, laboratory supported MS, clinically probable MS, and laboratory supported MS

16. Treatments No cure for MS Disease Modifying Drugs
Beta Interferons
Glatiramer
Mitoxantron
Drugs used to fight symptoms
Alternatives to Drugs
Plasmaphoresis

17. Prognosis Most MS patients confined to a wheelchair within 15 years
Life expectancy 25 to 35 years after onset of symptoms
Many deaths of MS patients result from complications due to secondary symptoms
Difficulty swallowing
Asphyxiation