What is Multiple Sclerosis and what causes it?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease wherein the bodiy’s immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheath surrounding nerves in the central nervous system, which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. The myelin sheath serves to facilitate conduction of nerve signals along pathways. The destruction of the myelin causes degradation of nerve signals resulting in impaired functioning of systems that those nerves serve. The attacks on the myelin cause demyelinated areas of the brain or spinal cord. The area affected determines what symptoms result. The damage and demyelination result in plaques which are frequently visible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The plaques are also evident on autopsy which results in the name of the disease (multiple plaques or sclera). The cause of MS is still unknown. Evidence suggestive of an infectious component in the development of MS has led people to propose various viral triggers, but no virus has been convincingly linked to MS. • What is t
