Multiple Sclerosis Research Paper

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).

There are three different versions of multiple sclerosis (“What is MS?”). The least severe being relapsing-remitting; this occurs when a person has an attack and then there are no further

     The course of the disease is also uncertain. In general, though, the disease follows several known patterns. These patterns are grouped under the heading “chronic progressive MS.” Relapsing-remitting MS is a form of MS in which patients experience series of actively symptomatic periods called attacks followed by remissions. Secondary-progressive MS begins after RRMS. This disease advances progressively, marked by acute attacks. Primary-progressive MS is marked by a gradual worsening of symptoms, but the attacks are not acute. Patients may have temporary

The first MS symptom can happen between the ages of 20 and 40. The symptoms can be vision problems, muscle weakness in the legs and arms, difficulty with coordination, problems with memory, and many more symptoms that vary in each person. The severity and progression of the disease is different with each person. The symptoms can last weeks or months and some people may experience one symptom where as others can have a combination of symptoms. Many people that suffer from MS go through a period of relapsing-remitting, which is when there are acute attacks and then the recovery follows in a short period of

“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which your immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers your nerves” (Mayo Clinic). The immune system is a defensive system that protects your body from diseases and illnesses such as parasites and bacteria (Science Museum). Not only does your immune system defend the human body but also the immune system can work against the body, which is known as autoimmune disease. Since the immune system is working against your body to attack the myelin, this creates an opportunity for multiple sclerosis to invade the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin within the body acts like insulation to protect and coat the nervous system (National Multiple Sclerosis Society). Once the myelin is eroded, the nerves become exposed which then causes signals to and from the brain to become distorted or irrupted causing a wide range of symptoms to occur (National Multiple Sclerosis Society). The effect of the myelin eroding is an irreversible process (Mayo Clinic). “The damaged myelin forms scar tissue (sclerosis), which

Symptoms of MS can vary from person to person and from time to time in the same person. They are very unpredictable and can either be temporary or permanent. Symptoms can include:

Thus, the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis are anxiety, balance, bladder dysfunction, bowel problems, cognitive changes, depression, vertigo, fatigue, pain, numbness, sexual dysfunction, and tremor. (MSAA)This can obviously cause a slew of complications that make day to day living and quality of live difficult to achieve as this disease progress. In severe cases some individuals will lose the ability to walk. (Mayo Clinic)

There is four types of MS; relapsing-remitting MS, secondary-progressive MS, primary-progessive MS, and progressive-relapsing MS. Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common type of MS. Secondary-progressive MS continues to progressive and get worse weather or not the person is having relapse. Primary-progressive MS continues to progress and worsen and there is no relapsing or periods of leveling off with this form. Progressive-relapsing MS is the rarest for of MS and it is progressive from the begining and there is no remission in this form. Les than 5% of patients are diagnosed with progressive-relapsing MS.

Multiple Sclerosis affects nearly every system in the body, from the urinary to the musculoskeletal, to the nervous and the reproductive. People with MS tend to begin experiencing their first signs and symptoms during mid-adulthood, or between the ages of 20 and 40. The symptoms can be persistent or fade away and then reappear. Early signs and

Brain signals can often not reach their destination because of the damage to the nerves. What causes the damage to the myelin? Basically, T-cells which are part of white blood cells. Normally, white blood cells attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria or other foreign tissues but in people with MS these cells get confused and attack myelin which is why MS is considered an autoimmune deficiency. MS is often disabling meaning that a wheelchair is needed. However, people with this disease suffer from a wide variety of problems, from trouble walking and maintaining balance, muscle weakness, spasms, pain, fatigue, sensation of numbness, and vision problems to name a few. These symptoms are often in recurring periods of time with worsening symptoms, people who suffer from MS have moments where the symptoms are hardly noticeable, and moments when the symptoms are very severe (NMSS).

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).

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis varies depending the severity of the attack. Each attack is different and may last for days, weeks or months. The disease goes under remission but everything the patient will take a turn for the worse. Symptoms vary depending on the lesion within the nervous system. The muscle symptoms are loss of balance, muscle, spasms, problems walking coordination, tremor, weakness bilateral arms or legs and problems walking. Bladder symptoms could be constipation, frequent urination, urge to urinate, urinary incontinence, and difficulty beginning to urinate. Eye symptoms can be double vision, rapid eye movement, vision loss, facial pain, painful muscle spasms, tingling in arms and legs. Brain and nerve symptoms decrease attention span, poor judgment and memory loss, depression of feelings or sadness, dizziness and hearing loss. Some other symptoms may include higher than usual temperatures and Lhermittes sign. Approximately 10-20% of people have symptoms that progress very insignificantly during their lives. Symptoms may get worst by heat, sun exposure and hot showers.

It affects everyone differently, because the severity and types of MS differ from person to person. The exact cause of MS is still unknown. The signs and symptoms of MS are blurred or double vision, thinking problems, clumsiness or lack of coordination, loss of balance, numbness, tingling, and weakness in an arm or leg. In order to determine if it is really MS, a medical doctor most likely a neurologist will perform several tests to diagnose it. A neurological exam will check for reduced nerve function, an eye exam will check for distortions in the inner eye and response times, a spinal tap will involve taking a sample of spinal fluid which will be removed with a long needle and go to be tested. There is no treatment for MS. Treatment typically focuses on speedy recovery from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that treatment is not required. Treatments for MS attacks are corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone, are prescribed to reduce nerve

Some people are affected with RRMS, and experience relapses (suffering from deterioration after a time of improvement) when their symptoms of MS get worse. Some people with RRMS experience a full recovery from their relapse, and return to just having the usual symptoms of MS, but others only have a partial recovery from the relapse, and worse, some do not recover at all. If the person does recover from the relapse, it usually takes weeks to months, without the symptoms of MS letting up. Many people have this when they are first diagnosed with MS. About 15% of people diagnosed with MS have PPMS, which is another one of the four disease courses of MS. In PPMS, symptoms of MS gradually increase without any obvious relapses. This is the most common type of MS that people over 40 are diagnosed with. SPMS is another type of MS, which usually follows RRMS (most people who are diagnosed with SPMS originally started with RRMS). Over time, the symptoms stop having relapses and just begin to get increasingly worse. This change may happen right after the symptoms of MS appear, or several years later. The last type of MS is PRMS, the least common of the four. A person diagnosed with PRMS will experience gradual worsening of the symptoms, and will also experience relapses. They may recover from their relapses, and they may not. This type of MS may first look like PPMS, but it is a complete different disease

A Multiple Sclerosis relapse or exacerbation is where the patient experiences a sudden onset of symptoms. These symptoms can vary depending on the where the flare up of sclerosis occurs on either the brain or spinal cord. Relapses can last anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks. They can create problems with neural transmission creating symptoms like; weakness, vision problems, vertigo, numbness, auditory problems and more.