What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease diagnosed primarily in adults between the ages of 20 and 50. It is caused by the inflammation and scarring (sclerosis) of the myelin sheath (a fatty covering that surrounds and protects nerve fibers) and the underlying nerve. Myelin insures the swift transmission of nerve impulses from brain to muscle. When myelin is damaged, communication breaks down between the brain and muscle. Body movements may become slow or uncoordinated because signals from the brain to the muscles deteriorate, or arms and legs may feel numb because sensations from the extremities no longer reach the brain.
Doctors still don't know what causes MS. Usually, MS begins as a series of attacks followed by complete or partial remissions. Diagnosing MS can be a challenge. A number of diseases produce symptoms that are similar, and there is no single laboratory test that will diagnose MS. When doctors suspect a patient may have the disease, they will take a medical history and conduct a neurological examination.
There is no cure for MS. Traditionally, anti-inflammatory corticosteroid drugs have been the principal medication since they reduce the duration and severity of attacks for most individuals. Doctors now also use a group of beta interferon drugs (such as Avonex, Betaseron, and Rebif) to delay disease progression.
The most common type of MS, the relapsing-remitting kind, is clearly defined by flare-ups and relapses when symptoms become dramatically worse, followed by recovery or remission when symptoms go away completely or partially. A smaller group of individuals, about 15 percent, have progressive MS.
Scientists have learned a great deal about MS in recent years by exploring how the body's autoimmune system, infectious or toxic agents, and gene mutations play a potential role in MS.
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
