WHAT IS MS:
MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system
affecting young adults. The central nervous system comprises the
brain and spinal cord. Together with the nerves connecting to the
rest of the body, they form the body's communication network.
Nerve cells (neurons) contain nerve fibres (axons), which are
surrounded by a protective sheath of fatty protein called myelin.
This protects the nerves in the same way that insulating material
protects an electric wire. In MS, damage or scarring occurs to the
myelin sheath. This damage (called demyelination) disrupts the way
in which messages, or nerve impulses, are carried to and from the
brain and so can interfere with a range of the body's
functions.
The term 'multiple sclerosis' comes from 'sclerosis', which
means 'scarring' and 'multiple', which relates to the sites of the
scarring, which can occur in different places throughout the brain
and spinal cord.
The symptoms experienced depend on the position and extent of
the scarring or lesions within the central nervous system and on
how much damage has occurred, so no two people with MS will have
exactly the same set of symptoms.
In the earlier stages of MS, the central nervous system can
often repair areas of damaged myelin or reroute messages via
different pathways of neurons thereby avoiding the damaged areas.
This explains why episodes of symptoms (relapses) can be followed
by weeks, months or even years when symptoms improve or disappear
(remission). However, if the area of damage becomes too large,
communication with that specific part of the central nervous system
may become permanently blocked.
What are the common symptoms at the time of
diagnosis?
- fatigue
- loss of vision in one eye
- blurred or double vision
- dragging a foot
- weakness of limbs
- reduced coordination
- balance problems
- numbness, pins and needles, burning sensations
What causes MS?
The cause of MS is not yet fully understood but is thought to be
a combination of environmental and genetic factors. One theory is
that some people have certain groups of genes that make them more
likely to develop MS. It may be that an external factor, such as a
virus, triggers a reaction in those with this genetic
predisposition causing the immune system to malfunction and attack
its own myelin.