What are the main causes of multiple sclerosis?
While there are no known causes, there are risk factors:
- Gender - women have MS 3:1 over men
- Age - typically between 15 and 60
- Geographical location - cases of MS are higher in northern climates
- Race - whites of European descent are more likely to develop MS than other races
Why is multiple sclerosis often so difficult to diagnose?
Multiple sclerosis Some toxins, medications, and alcohol can affect nerves and complicate diagnosis. CIDP usually gets worse slowly, but it doesn’t always follow a pattern to make it easily ...
What happens to a person with multiple sclerosis?
- dizziness
- vertigo
- confusion
- memory problems
- emotional or personality changes
What are facts about multiple sclerosis?
People with multiple sclerosis may also develop:
- Muscle stiffness or spasms
- Paralysis, typically in the legs
- Problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function
- Mental changes, such as forgetfulness or mood swings
- Depression
- Epilepsy
Why is MS diagnosed?
What are the symptoms of MS?
What is the most common immune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system?
What are phenotypes in MS?
What are the two hypotheses for MS?
Where is MS most common?
Which region of Chromosome 6 increases the probability of getting MS?
See 4 more
About this website
What does sclerosis refer to?
Definition of sclerosis 1 : pathological hardening of tissue especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue also : a disease characterized by sclerosis.
What is multiple sclerosis in simple terms?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord.
Where did multiple sclerosis originate?
Possibly the earliest documentation of multiple sclerosis is the case of Lidwina the Virgin, who lived in Schiedam, Holland. In 1395, age 16 years, Lidwina developed an acute illness and subsequently fell while skating on a frozen canal. Later symptoms included blindness in one eye, weakness and pain.
What is the difference between multiple sclerosis and sclerosis?
Summary of the key differences Although both MS and SS are autoimmune disorders, they are distinct conditions. Multiple sclerosis impacts only the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. In contrast, SS is a multisystem disease, meaning it can impact multiple areas of the body.
What is the average age of death for someone with MS?
The study found that people with MS lived to be 75.9 years old, on average, compared to 83.4 years old for those without. That 7.5-year difference is similar to what other researchers have found recently.
Can MS go away?
The symptoms of a relapse may disappear altogether, with or without treatment, although some symptoms often persist, with repeated attacks happening over several years. Periods between attacks are known as periods of remission. These can last for years at a time.
Are you born with MS or does it develop?
Genetic Factors MS is not an inherited disease, meaning it is not a disease that is passed down from generation to generation. However, in MS there is genetic risk that may be inherited. In the general population, the risk of developing MS is about 1 in 750 - 1000.
What country has the most cases of multiple sclerosis?
The countries with the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis include Canada, San Marino, Denmark, and Sweden....Countries with the highest prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis as of 2015 (per 100,000 people)CharacteristicCases per 100,000 peopleCanada291San Marino2508 more rows•Mar 24, 2015
What famous person has multiple sclerosis?
Christina Applegate Applegate is one of the most recent celebrities to reveal her MS diagnosis to the public, and she hasn't let this disease slow her down. In fact, she seems busier than ever.
What illnesses are mistaken for MS?
Conditions That Can Seem Like MSEpstein-Barr Virus.Vitamin B12 Deficiency.Diabetes.Nerve Damage.Eye Problems.Stroke.Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases.Parkinson's Disease.More items...•
Is MS like Parkinsons?
These diseases both affect your nerves. MS can break down the coating, called myelin, that surrounds and protects your nerves. In Parkinson's, nerve cells in a part of your brain slowly die off. Both can start out with mild symptoms, but they get worse over time.
Is MS terminal or chronic?
Although MS isn't fatal, there's currently no cure — MS is a chronic condition. But many people who have MS also have to contend with other issues that can decrease their quality of life. Even though most will never become severely disabled, many experience symptoms that cause pain, discomfort, and inconvenience.
How do you explain multiple sclerosis to others?
“I usually try to give a simple explanation, something like: 'My immune system has mistaken my brain and spinal cord for the enemy and tries to attack the coating of my nerves inappropriately. '” She also explains how it affects her everyday life.
What does multiple sclerosis lead to?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Over time, it can lead to vision problems, muscle weakness, loss of balance or numbness. Several drug therapies can limit nerve damage and slow the disease's progression.
What are usually the first signs of MS?
There are lots of symptoms that MS can cause, but not everyone will experience all of them.fatigue.numbness and tingling.loss of balance and dizziness.stiffness or spasms.tremor.pain.bladder problems.bowel trouble.More items...
The 4 Types & Stages of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Explained - WebMD
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is classified into different types and progressive stages of the disease. Learn more about each type and their characteristics.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) - symptoms, treatment and types - healthdirect
Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately. healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement. Prolonged double vision. Blurry vision. Multiple sclerosis symptoms may also include: Slurred speech. Fatigue. Dizziness. Tingling or pain in parts of your body. Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function.
Why does MS develop in some people and not others?
It isn't clear why MS develops in some people and not others. A combination of genetics and environmental factors appears to be responsible.
What is the term for a disease that can be disabling?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
What is the effect of multiple sclerosis on the brain?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord ...
What is the effect of MS on the body?
Depending on where the nerve damage occurs, MS can affect vision, sensation, coordination, movement, and bladder and bowel control. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease ...
How do you know if you have multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Symptoms often affect movement, such as: Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or your legs and trunk.
How long does MS last?
These relapses are followed by quiet periods of disease remission that can last months or even years.
What is the cause of MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is caused by progressive damage to myelin, which coats and protects nerve cell extensions called axons. Axons speed transmission of impulses among nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. When myelin is damaged, nerve cell communication is disrupted.
What is the most common type of multiple sclerosis?
There are different types of multiple sclerosis, and they follow different patterns. Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This is the most common type of multiple sclerosis. Relapsing means that symptoms come and go. Episodes during which symptoms suddenly get worse are called relapses, attacks, or flare-ups.
Why does myelin get damaged?
Myelin helps transmit nerve impulses. In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath becomes inflamed or damaged. This disrupts or slows nerve impulses and leaves areas of scarring along nerves.
How long does MS relapse last?
Relapses can last for days to weeks. They are followed by remissions, or periods of recovery. During remissions, many people with MS feel close to normal. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. About half of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis eventually enter a secondary phase.
How do you know if you have multiple sclerosis?
Most people only have a few of them. weak, stiff, or rigid muscles. painful muscle spasms. trouble walking. tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, trunk, or face. difficulty maintaining balance. trouble with thinking and memory.
What test is used to determine if you have multiple sclerosis?
This test measures how quickly and accurately your nervous system responds to certain types of stimulation. lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Spinal fluid may contain proteins and inflammatory cells associated with multiple sclerosis.
Can you take medication for multiple sclerosis?
Treating symptoms. You also can take medications to treat specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis including:
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord. This attack causes inflammation, which destroys nerve cell processes and myelin – altering electrical messages in the brain.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
This form of multiple sclerosis is characterized by the onset of the neurological symptoms over a period of hours to days. Common symptoms of a relapse may include: Fatigue. Numbness. Tingling.
How long does MS last?
These symptoms tend to persist for days or weeks, and then disappear partially or completely on their own or with treatment. Patients may then remain symptom-free for weeks, months or even years (known as remission ). Without treatment, most people with MS will develop disease symptoms that will gradually worsen over time (known as relapsing ).
How does MS affect the brain?
This attack causes inflammation, which destroys nerve cell processes and myelin – altering electrical messages in the brain. MS is unpredictable and affects each patient differently – some individuals may be mildly affected, while others may lose their ability to write, speak or walk.
How long does it take for MS to become benign?
Benign MS is a mild course where an individual will have mild disease after having MS for about 15 years. This occurs in about 5-10% of patients. There is no good way of predicting which patients will follow this course. The only way to identify benign MS is AFTER someone has had the diagnosis of MS for at least 15 years and has had no evidence of worsening (both in functional ability and as evidenced on the MRI). Benign MS cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis or even after a few years with MS.
What is progressive MS?
This is referred to as primary progressive MS. People with primary-progressive MS describe a gradual change in mobility; often walking, over time. They often describe heaviness and stiffness in the lower limbs. People with primary-progressive MS almost never have an exacerbation (relapse).
Can MS relapse after a primary progressive course?
People with primary-progressive MS almost never have an exacerbation (relapse). If a relapse occurs after a primary progressive course is well established, the pattern is known as Progressive-Relapsing MS.
What is MS in medical terms?
Larger Text. Print. Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Within the CNS, the immune system causes inflammation that damages myelin — ...
Why do people with MS have scars?
The damaged areas develop scar tissue which gives the disease its name – multiple areas of scarring or multiple sclerosis. The cause of MS is not known, but it is believed to involve genetic susceptibility, abnormalities in the immune system and environmental factors that combine to trigger the disease. People with MS typically experience one of ...
What happens when myelin is damaged?
When myelin or nerve fibers are damaged or destroyed in MS, messages within the CNS are altered or stopped completely. Damage to areas of the CNS may produce a variety of neurological symptoms that will vary among people with MS in type and severity. The damaged areas develop scar tissue which gives the disease its name – multiple areas ...
What are the factors that contribute to the development of MS?
Scientists believe that a combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing MS. Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
How many courses are there for MS?
People with MS typically experience one of four disease courses (types of MS). There are over a dozen treatments to help modify the MS disease process.
What causes inflammation in the CNS?
Within the CNS, the immune system causes inflammation that damages myelin — the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers — as well as the nerve fibers themselves, and the specialized cells that make myelin.
What is MS in medical terms?
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. With these conditions, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. In people with MS, the immune system attacks cells in the myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Damage to the myelin sheath interrupts nerve ...
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Other common symptoms include: Changes in gait. Fatigue. Loss of balance or coordination. Muscle spasms.
What is the disease that affects the central nervous system?
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). It is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune cells to mistakenly attack your healthy nerve cells. These attacks lead to inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath that covers and protects your nerve cells. This damage causes neurological symptoms — such as loss of balance, vision problems and muscle weakness. Several effective treatments exist for MS. These medications reduce relapses and help slow the progression of the disease. Most people with MS are able to manage their symptoms and lead full, active lives.
How does Multiple Sclerosis affect your physical function?
They slow damage to the myelin sheath surrounding your nerve cells. Physical rehabilitation : Multiple sclerosis can affect your physical function. Staying physically fit and strong will help you maintain your mobility. Mental health counseling: Coping with a chronic condition can be emotionally challenging.
What is the cause of numbness and numbness in the central nervous system?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Over time, it can lead to vision problems, muscle weakness, loss of balance or numbness. Several drug therapies can limit nerve damage and slow the disease’s progression. Appointments 866.588.2264.
Why does heat cause MS?
Doctors believe that this occurs because heat causes nerves (whose myelin covering has been removed by MS) to conduct electrical signals even less efficiently.
What is relapsing remitting MS?
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): This is the most common form of multiple sclerosis. People with RRMS have flare-ups -- also called relapse or exacerbation -- of new or worsening symptoms. Periods of remission follow (when symptoms stabilize or go away).
When did MS get its name?
Since the late 1300s, individuals with a progressive illness suggestive of MS have been observed. It wasn’t until 1868 that the famous neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, lectured on the features of MS and gave it a name.
What were the treatments for multiple sclerosis in the 1800s?
Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, hundreds of therapies were tried, without success, in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Deadly nightshade (a plant with poisonous fruit), arsenic, mercury, and the injection of malaria parasites, are just a few examples of the types of ineffective and even dangerous therapies that were once given ...
Who is the founder of neurology?
Charcot was a French scientist, instructor, and physician who is claimed by some to be the founder of modern neurology. He lived during the 1800s and Sigmund Freud was among the famous students he inspired. In addition to the many neurological disorders that he defined and treated, he was also known for his treatment of hysteria with hypnotism, which he believed was hereditary and caused by weaknesses in one’s neurological system.
Is MS a difficult disease to diagnose?
The fact that symptoms flare-up and subside for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS), combined with the wide variety and unpredictability of symptoms, has made MS a difficult disease to recognize , define, and treat – right from the start. Since the late 1300s, individuals with a progressive illness suggestive of MS have been observed. It wasn’t until 1868 that the famous neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, lectured on the features of MS and gave it a name.
Why is MS diagnosed?
MS is usually diagnosed based on the presenting signs and symptoms and the results of supporting medical tests.
What are the symptoms of MS?
Difficulties thinking and emotional problems such as depression or unstable mood are also common. Uhthoff's phenomenon, a worsening of symptoms due to exposure to higher than usual temperatures, and Lhermitte's sign, an electrical sensation that runs down the back when bending the neck, are particularly characteristic of MS. The main measure of disability and severity is the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), with other measures such as the multiple sclerosis functional composite being increasingly used in research. EDSS is also correlated with falls in people with MS. While it is a popular measure, EDSS has been criticized for some of its limitations, such as relying too much on walking.
What is the most common immune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system?
Multiple sclerosis ( MS ), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata, is the most common immune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system. It is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to transmit signals, resulting in a range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems. Specific symptoms can include double vision, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, and trouble with sensation or coordination. MS takes several forms, with new symptoms either occurring in isolated attacks (relapsing forms) or building up over time (progressive forms). Between attacks, symptoms may disappear completely, although permanent neurological problems often remain, especially as the disease advances.
What are phenotypes in MS?
Several phenotypes (commonly termed types ), or patterns of progression, have been described. Phenotypes use the past course of the disease in an attempt to predict the future course. They are important not only for prognosis but also for treatment decisions. Currently, the United States National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, describes four types of MS (revised in 2013):
What are the two hypotheses for MS?
Two opposing versions of this hypothesis include the hygiene hypothesis and the prevalence hypothesis , the former being more favored. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that exposure to certain infectious agents early in life is protective; the disease is a response to a late encounter with such agents. The prevalence hypothesis proposes that an early, persistent, and silent infection increases risk of disease, and thus the disease is more common where the infectious agent is more common. Only in a few cases and after many years does it cause demyelination.
Where is MS most common?
MS is more common in regions with northern European populations and the geographic variation may simply reflect the global distribution of these high-risk populations.
Which region of Chromosome 6 increases the probability of getting MS?
HLA region of Chromosome 6. Changes in this area increase the probability of getting MS.
