Multiple Sclerosis Is A Prolonged, Progressive, Wasting Disorder Of The Central Nervous System

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of humankind’s most mysterious diseases. No one knows the exact cause and there is no exact treatment. Still multiple sclerosis has the ability to affect nearly 3 million people worldwide and at least 500,000 people in the United States (Boroch). This disease tends to be more common in individuals of northern European descent and women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men. Of those 3 million people, most of them are between the ages of 20 and 50 years old (Dangond). Even though multiple sclerosis is a mystery disease, scientists are working to determine the exact cause and treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) through cellular immune response and the demyelination of CNS white matter (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633). The initial causes of MS are unknown however, it is believed that it could possibly be due to an immune response to an initiating infection or an autoimmune response to CNS antigens on the myelin itself (Brück, 2005) (Miljković and Spasojević, 2013). MS is a result of the degradation of the myelin sheath surrounding neurons and therefore disrupts the transmission of action potentials along these cells. MS can display itself in the form of symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to trouble with sensation and coordination (NHS, 2016). The degradation of myelin leads the body to attempt to remyelinate the neurons, a process that in turn leads to the thickening of the cell by glial cells and this causes lesions to form (Chari, 2007). It is this thickening (sclerae) from which the disease gets its name. Sufferers of MS can either have a relapsing type of MS, in which there are episodes that lead to the worsening of symptoms for a period of time, or a progressive type of MS where symptoms gradually progress and worsen (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633).

It is suggested by previous studies that the damage of the myelin sheath in MS involves the activation of inflammatory factors including the CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, macrophages and microglia cells (Luccinetti et al., 1996; Lassmannet al., 2012). However, whether the immune response triggers the onset of MS, or is a consequence of the disease process is currently not clear. Interestingly, several recent studies suggested that the prevalence rate of MS is significantly increased with latitude, which implies that not only the geographical (environmental) differences but racial and ethnic differences may play a role in the worldwide MS distribution (Rosati, 2001; Simpson et al., 2011).

Anyone can develop MS, but many patients share the following characteristics. The majority experiences their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40. Caucasians are more than twice as likely as other races to develop MS. MS is two to three times more common in women as in men. MS is five times more common in temperate climates like those of the northern US, Canada, and Europe. And people whose close relatives have MS are more susceptible to developing the disease, but there is no evidence the disease is directly inherited.

M.S., as some would call it, also known as multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease. This disease, in particular, could also be viewed as an autoimmune disorder. It is not nearly as fatal as the sexually transmitted disease (AIDS), yet it can be just as debilitating. What exactly is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system malfunctions and begins to attack the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is an insulating cover

C. Thesis Statement: With autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis on a steady rise over the past decade, three major factors must be considered: the possible causes, common symptoms, and

Having the disease multiple sclerosis can affect one's life tremendously. In the essay, "On Being A Cripple", the author Nancy Mairs suffers from the disease and has a love-hate relationship with it. Socially, it appears that although Mairs has the disease, she accepts it and does normal things like going on vacations with her family. However, personally, it's hard for her at times and she gets into a depressed state and wishes she didn't have the disease when she has a falling or an incident. Multiple Sclerosis, also referred to as “MS”, is a disease that can affect one's brain, spinal cord, and eyes.

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.

There has not been a specific cause of MS identified, but it has been thought that a wide

Factors such as geography (those in a temperate climate have an elevated risk compared to those in a color climate or whom are near the equator). Race is also indicative of higher multiple sclerosis probability, with Caucasians being the highest, and Asian communities the lowest. A significance has also been directly linked to women who smoke cigarettes to be 1.6 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, and all individuals who smoke to have a higher risk for rapid progression of multiple sclerosis. More research is being done on these factors, and they are learning new facts and disproving old theories as they learn. (MSAA)

Multiple sclerosis, or MS as it is more commonly referred, is an immune mediated disease that involves the body's own defense mechanism, specialized immune cells, that ultimately attacks the central nervous system. Specifically, the myelin protein that coats axons and forms an electrically insulating layer for quicker processing of the nervous system, is attacked by cytotoxic cells that have crossed into the CNS. In a healthy patient, the blood brain barrier cannot be crossed by cytotoxic cells and it is speculated that an environmental component or outside source mediates this crossing. When the myelin is attacked, it forms scars in the CNS, as multiple sclerosis literally translates to “many scars,” which is the direct result of the disease. The scars disrupt the normal nerve impulses that travel through the central nervous system, and can cause a variety of symptoms including loss of cognition, fatigue, or numbness in the body (Evidence).

Moreover, the location of the living place in the world can affect some aspects causing MS to develop, and these aspects are the expose to sunlight and vitamin D concentration in the body (3,5). When people are further away from the equator, they become more in risk to have MS due to decreasing sunlight exposure and vitamin D concentration (5). The relation between sunlight exposure and vitamin D is that sunlight exposure gives the body the essential amount of vitamin D to function properly (3). When Vitamin D concentration decrease, the enzymes that help producing Calcitriol, a substance that helps the brain activate the genes essential for nervous cells to make neurotrophins protein that helps the cells to grow, decrease too causing brain problem

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,

Environment, within which an individual lives, is also believed to contribute to the contracting of multiple sclerosis. In countries that are located far away from the equator there are higher chances of individuals suffering from this disease. This observation has been made by epidemiologists who believe that limited amount of vitamin D would be the cause (Healthline 5). People who live further from the equator have less exposure to sunlight, which is believed to be a natural source of vitamin D; and it is known to play part in functioning of the immune system. Since multiple sclerosis is linked to immune system, lack of adequate vitamins D would contribute to the prevalence of the disease in these places far from the equator.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune neurological disease that attacks the nervous system. Sclerosis is a Greek term that literally translates to a hardening disease. Doctors have not yet established the cause of this disease, however, there are some factors that contribute to the development of MS. Although the first case of MS was a woman in the 14th century, the disease was only recognized five centuries later. MS causes prolong disability in adults. A research which was conducted in the UK showed that “The lifetime risk of developing MS is about 1 in 400” in the UK alone. It is gender related, it is prevalent in woman twice as much as men. This essay presents a definition of MS based on its risk factors, symptoms, and treatment.