Multiple Sclerosis Case Study

MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, inflammation in the CNS and the formation of lesions in the CNS.

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage in the brain and spinal cord with a loss of myelin that covers the axons. As the myelin sheath regenerates, scar tissue forms, which looks like plaques on magnetic resonance imaging scans. Multiple sclerosis arises when immune-mediated inflammation activates T cells and causes the T cells and immune mediators to cross the blood-brain barriers into the CNS and attack oligodendrocytes (ie, a type of neuroglial cell with dendritic projections that coil around axons of neural cells). When the oligodendrocytes are attacked, the myelin sheath is replaced by scar tissue, which forms throughout the CNS. As a result of damage to the myelin sheath, the ability to transmit and conduct nerve impulses along the spinal cord and in the brain is interrupted, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, loss of coordination, balance impairment, and cognitive and visual disturbance (DeLuca & Nocentini, 2011). This disease is characterized by unpredictable remissions that occur over several years. During periods of remission, the myelin sheath usually regenerates and symptoms may resolve, but the myelin cannot be completely repaired. As the disease progresses, the myelin sheath is destroyed and nerve impulses become much slower or absent and symptoms worsen. When degeneration exceeds self-repair ability, permanent disability results. There are four defined clinical types of

MS is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks the bodys own myelin sheath protection. The damaged myelin and axon fibers is caused by overactivated T cells.

Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, is an auto-immune disease. An auto-immune disease is one in which the body attacks itself. In this particular disease, the central nervous system is being attacked. Specifically, the myelin sheath, or the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, is attacked. The attacks cause scar tissue, which makes it difficult for signals to travel between the brain and body. Eventually, the nerves may deteriorate, which is a process that is completely irreversible [5]. See the figure below for more detail.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that typically is diagnosed in the second or third decade of life. Normally, nerves are enclosed in myelin sheaths that help facilitate transmission of nerve impulses within the CNS and the peripheral nervous system throughout the body. In patients with MS, the myelin sheath is damaged and eventually degenerates, causing patches of scar tissue called plaques or lesions to occur anywhere randomly on the myelin sheath (Ruto, 2013). This results in impaired nerve conductivity, which interferes with message transmission between the brain and the other parts of the body. As a result, impulse transmission is altered, distorted, short-circuited, or completely absent. This interference in impulse transmission creates muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, and possibly muscle spasms with partial or complete paralysis. Multiple sclerosis also can result in visual impairment and alteration of cognitive abilities, as well as pain, numbness, or tingling sensations (Ruto, 2013).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack myelin sheath causing neurological damage to areas of the brain and causes neurological deterioration. In the brain the myelin sheath is involved with what allows for communication between brain and the body. As the disease progresses the sheath deteriorates the neurons where the myelin sheath is found is damaged, causing a break or loss of information when the brain is trying to communicate with the brain. As the central nervous system (CNS) is deteriorating it causes permanent damage that is incurable. The symptoms are not as

Multiple Sclerosis is also known as MS and is a disease of the central nervous system. It is a chronic inflammation disease that is immune-mediated and attacks the protective sheath that covers the fibers of the nerve and causes problems of communication between the brain and the remainder of the body. This disease will eventually cause the nerves to deteriorate or become damaged permanently. Multiple Sclerosis has the potential to disable the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this autoimmune disease unknown. The body’s immune system attacks its own tissues.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that can impact many different parts of the body. It starts out by the immune system attacking the myelin that surrounds the nerve fibers in the Central Nervous System. Once the myelin tissue is damaged, it forms a type of scar tissue that essentially causes the sclerosis. It then sends nerve impulses back and forth between the brain and spinal cord that can cause many different ranges of symptoms. Scientists are still researching the cause for this disease; however, there have been great advancements since it was first discovered back in the eighteen-hundreds. From conducting research over the years, scientists have been able to collect data that gives a further insight into how MS works. There is no cure

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic progressive disease involving damage to the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown but we know that something triggers the immune system to attack the central nervous system (CNS). MS happens when your immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin and without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged. The resulting damage to myelin that insulates wire like nerve fibers is a disruption of signals to and from the brain. This hiatus of communication signals causes unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, blindness, paralysis, fatigue and pain. People who have MS experience the disease differently,

The four main types of Multiple Sclerosis are Relapsing-remitting MS, Secondary Progressive MS, Primary Progressive MS, and Progressive Relapsing MS. “Symptoms occur in any area served by the myelinated nerves of the central white matter of the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord” (Murray, 2005). Symptoms include: weakness or sensory changes in the limbs (legs); unsteadiness; difficulty with bladder control; visual changes; vertigo; facial numbness or weakness; or double vision (Murray, 2005). Because different areas of the brain and spinal cord are responsible for different kinds of movements and sensations, the neurologic deficit that results from an area of scarring depends on the exact location of the abnormality (Schapiro, 2007). These abnormalities Schapiro (2007) means are lesions in any part of the Central Nervous System. These symptoms and harshness of the symptoms all vary depending on where that damage in the Central Nervous System has occurred. No case of Multiple Sclerosis is exactly alike from patient to patient and because of that, symptoms vary considerably.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord, the central nervous system. Scientists believe that the disease is caused by an environmental factor that certain genetics are predisposed to respond to. Symptoms can vary from person to person but the most common are blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, memory problems, paralysis, and blindness. In order to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a careful history of symptoms is taken, as well as history of birthplace, family, environment, and other illnesses. A variety of tests are run to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Most of the people who are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis are between the ages of twenty and fifty; yet there are people as young as two and as old as seventy-five who have developed the disease. Although the life expectancy for this disease has increased, Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a disabling autoimmune disease that basically attacks the protective sheath of our myelin. The myelin surrounds the nerve fibers and helps orchestrate impulses that our sent to our spinal cord and brain otherwise known as the central nervous system. People who are diagnosed with MS have damaged or inflamed myelin around the nerves causing poor conduction where the impulses are either weakened or lost. With the damaged myelin protective coating, the nerves are then more vulnerable to attack from the immune cells. As we know, immune cells protect the body from foreign substances such as bacteria or viruses. This neurological disease typically manifests in young people between the ages of 20-40 years old. MS is predominately diagnosed in woman more than men and also in Caucasians verses any other races. MS not only affects our ability to walk and talk, but our breathing even relies on proper functioning of the CNS. This disease deteriorates our myelin and is irreversible. Some people diagnosed with MS go long periods in remission while others eventually die.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease that causes disruption to the electrical functions of the immune system resulting in cognitive and motor functions to become destroyed. 1 Multiple sclerosis affects 350,000 people in the United States, however; 2.3 million people globally are known to have multiple sclerosis. 2 This disease has throughout the years been on the rise all over the world. This increase could be due to people moving from one region to another. 2 Women tend to be at greater risk of having multiple sclerosis than men. Women typically develop symptoms at the ages of 20 and 40 years while men are known to develop symptoms at a later age. 2 Caucasian women are more susceptible to developing multiple sclerosis while African Americans have a lower chance of getting this disease. 1 Considering that MS is a disease that affects the nervous system, there is no concise explanation as to what causes this disease. Tobacco products have been linked to causing MS as well as some viruses and bacteria. 2 As viruses attack the brain and the spinal cord, the main compartments of our nervous system, this triggers an effect that causes extreme damage to the axons, specifically their mylenated areas.1 Multiple sclerosis triggers pain to the central nervous system, which destroys and prohibits proper functions. This disease is considered as being irreversible because of the damage done to the axons. 2 As damage to the axons is seen, lesions start to develop in the brain and

Damage to myelin and nerve fibers is caused by overactive T-cells, which are a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. (4) The course of MS is unpredictable and tends to affect young adults more often such as people between 20 and 40. Women also tend to be affected twice as much as men. However, it can develop in children and older people. Multiple sclerosis is often not diagnosed right away because it shares symptoms with other neurological conditions and disease but symptoms of MS normally include vision problems, weak muscles, numbness, tingling, clumsiness, bladder control problems and dizziness. (3) Later symptoms tend to include fatigue, mood changes, loss of the ability to concentrate, and difficulty making decisions. This is a disease that tends to be caused by genetic vulnerabilities as well as environmental factors. The course for MS is unpredictable because it varies in each person.

Multiples sclerosis, also known as MS, is a disease in which a patient’s immune system attacks his or her central nervous system. Within the central nervous system, the myelin sheaths of individual nerves are attacked and damaged causing a break in communication between the patient’s brain and his and her body. The location of this disease is within the myelin sheaths on the nerves located in the central nervous system.