What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person’s healthy tissue
Who gets MS? Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns. More than twice as many women as men have MS. Studies suggest that genetics factors make certain individuals more susceptible than other, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among people with northern European ancestry. People of African, Asian, and Hispanic background are also diagnosed with MS; however, the frequency is much lower.
What are the typical symptoms of MS? Symptoms of MS are unpredictable; vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. For example: One person many experience abnormal fatigue and episodes of numbness and tingling. Another could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult. Still another could have slurred speech, tremor, stiffness, and bladder problems.
Can MS be cured? Not yet. There are now FDA-approved medications that have been shown to “modify” or slow the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year, and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging.
What causes MS? While the cause (etiology) of MS is still not known, scientists believe that a combination of several factors may be involved. Studies are ongoing in the areas of immunology (the science of the body’s immune system), epidemiology (that looks at patterns of disease in the population), and genetics in an effort to answer this important question.
