Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis

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, the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers as well as the nerve fibers themselves, and the specialized cells that make myelin.

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 of scarring or multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis affects about 1 million people in the United States, and about 2.9 million worldwide. MS usually shows up when a person is between 20 and 40 years of age, with 32 the mean age. It is more common in women than men, with recent studies suggesting a female to male ration is as high as 3-4 to 1.

The prevalence of MS varies with location and increases with distance from the equator. We don’t know whether this has to do with an environmental influence, a genetic influence, or something else.

Source of information: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com