Multiple sclerosis, otherwise known as MS, affects thousands of people across the world. The disease can be debilitating and progressive. Targeting the central nervous system, MS can make a sudden appearance or may cause a steady, gradual decline in health. Involving the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, MS is a disease that certainly should be studied and investigated. It is very important to learn more about this disease, especially if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with MS.

What MS Does

People suffering from MS often have problems with muscle control, balance, strength, and vision. They may also have problems with sensation and mental functions. The central nervous system is composed of nerves and nerve fibers. MS works to attack the protective protein called myelin that surrounds nerve fibers. This process is called demyelination. This occurs when the protective protein is inflamed or destroyed because of MS. When the myelin protecting vulnerable nerve cells has been destroyed, the communication between the nerve cells is jumbled. This interrupts the normal flow of nerve impulses throughout the central nervous system and results in the symptoms experienced by people with MS.

There may be lesions or plaques in areas of the body where demyelination has occurred. When the cells that help to create and restore myelin are destroyed, the body cannot restore function or heal the damaged tissues. This results in damage to the nerve fibers, known as axons. Thus, the body is further damaged and disabled. People with MS may experience periods of relapse and recurrence, or they may experience a progression and worsening of the disease from the first onset of symptoms. The severity of the symptoms someone with MS might experience varies from person to person.

Many people who develop MS can get around unassisted, but eventually as many as 25 percent of those people will need some form of assistance, including a wheelchair. If you are caring for someone who has been diagnosed with MS or you have been diagnosed yourself, finding out as much information about the disease as possible will make understanding the battle easier.