Introduction
Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord(parts of the central nervous system). It occurs as a result of the immune system attacking myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cells. Without a myelin sheath, damage occurs to nerves and there is even miscommunication in the nervous system. This condition can cause irreversible injury to nerve fibers.
The disease is fatal in vary rare cases, commonly affecting young individuals between the age bracket of 20-40 years old. It is caused by demyelination of neurons . Several signs and symptoms can present.
Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed following a number of procedures, as there lacks a single diagnostic tool to pinpoint it.
Although it is incurable, there are various treatment plans for multiple sclerosis which are aimed at lowering further injury, managing symptoms and preventing complications.
Key Facts
What are the key facts and statistics surrounding MS?
Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease of young adults.
It is fatal in very rare cases.
According to studies performed, there are about 1 million adult individuals in the US who have Multiple sclerosis.
Risk Factors
Risk factors most commonly responsible for MS are:
- Age. Mostly, onset of MS occurs between 20-40 years of age.
- Sex. Women and people assigned female at birth are 2-3 times more likely to have MS with relapses and remissions.
- Race. Whites are at higher risk.
- Obesity. Risk factor in females.
- Auto-immune conditions such as type 1 diabetes, psoariasis or IBD.
- Positive family history of MS.
- Genetics. A certain gene located on chromosome 6 is associated with this condition.
- Low Vitamin D levels and lower exposure to sun.
- Some viral infections such as Epstein-Barr Virus(EBV).
- Smoking.
Causes
What are the causes of MS?
Demyelination or destruction of myelin sheath around neurons causes multiple sclerosis. The function of myelin is to act as a protective layer around the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
In multiple sclerosis, the immune system is overactivated and mistakes healthy myelin(sometimes together with the neurons sheathed) as a menace to the body, then attacks the healthy myelin sheath leading to injury(damage). This is the process of demyelination.
Signs & Symptoms
Here are the signs and symptoms of MS:
- Difficulty walking and unsteady gait
- Fatigue
- Electric-shock sensations which happen with specific movements of the neck
- Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function.
- Numbness or tingling in various body parts
- Learning, planning and thinking difficulties
- Vision problems such as blurred vision
- Muscle stiffness
- Lack of motor coordination
- Vertigo
- Mood disturbances
Types
What are the commonly known types of multiple sclerosis?
There are for kinds of multiple sclerosis:
- Clinically isolated syndrome(CIS)
- Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis(RRMS)
- Secondary Progressive multiple sclerosis
- Primary progressive multiple sclerosis
There are three variants of multiple sclerosis which are rare. These include:
- Balo’s concentric sclerosis
- Marburg variant multiple sclerosis
- Tumefactive multiple sclerosis
Diagnosis
How is MS diagnosed?
Currently, there is not any diagnostic tool that can pinpoint multiple sclerosis.
Generally, the following procedures are performed:
- Physical examination
- Neurological examination
- Tests that rule out other conditions(which have similar symptoms to MS):
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test
- Lumbar puncture
- Evoked potential test
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) test
- Blood and urine tests
Treatment & Management
Currently, there is not a cure for multiple sclerosis.
However, treatment plan includes:
- Medications
- Physical and speech therapy
- Mental health counseling
Treatment of multiple sclerosis aims at lowering further injury, managing of symptoms and prevention of complications.
Common types of MS medications are:
- Disease-modifying therapies;
- Venous infusions such as rituximab, natalizumab and ublituximab.
- Oral medications such as monomethyl fumarate, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod and cladribine.
- Dermal injections such as beta interferon.
- Stem cell transplant.
Relapse management medications; Methylpredinisolone, a corticosteroid, is used foe severe symptom attacks. It suppresses the immune system, thereby quickly lowering the immune system.
Complications
What are the complications of MS?
- Seizures
- Paralysis in legs
- Anxiety and depression
- Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function
- Muscle stiffness
Prevention
- Currently, it is unfortunate that we do not yet have established methods for prevention of multiple sclerosis.
- However, individuals can lower risk of multiple sclerosis symptom flare-ups/ relapses/attacks.
- One of the most effective methods to reduce number of flare-ups is by using disease-modifying agents.
- Lifestyle choices to slow down disease progression are;
- Getting adequate sleep
- Consuming nutritious foods
- Engaging in regular physical activities such as exercises
- Avoid smoking and using tobacco products