Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complicated chronic deteriorating disease that has an effect on the central nervous system (CNS). This disease causes destruction of the myelin around the nerve fibers. “The exact etiology of Multiple Sclerosis is unknown; however, it is thought to be an immune mediated disease. MS is characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss” (Compston & Coles, 2008). Typically, it is described by early relapses and remissions of neurological signs of the CNS. This is known as relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). MS can be identified by a variety of known risk factors. Multiple Sclerosis can be brought on by a mixture of inherited and environmental risk factors such as smoking or an exposure to a virus like Epstein Barr. The inflammatory process has an interesting role on the central nervous system. The body’s inflammatory process is facilitated by T-cell and B-cell responses to autoantigens within the CNS. The inflammatory process that happens within the CNS causes declining changes in the brain. Some changes include the axonal loss and immobilizing neurological damages. The remaining damage that transpires is irreversible and permanent in the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms of MS depend on the type and the severity of the disease. If the type and severity of the disease is severe then the symptoms will be more extreme. Some of the more common symptoms that are experienced include sensory symptoms; like numbness, tingling or pain, fatigue, visual disturbances, elimination problems like frequency or urgency and depression. There are many methods to diagnosing MS. There has been an increase in treatment options available and they are continuously testing new drugs yearly. Di... ... middle of paper ... ...rini, C., & Ruggieri, S. (2011). Emerging oral drugs for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs, 16, 697Y712. Jeffrey S. (2011). Second phase 3 trial positive with alemtuzumab in MS. Medscape Medical News. Available at: www.medscape.com McDonald, W. I., Compston, A., Edan, G., Goodkin, D., Hartung, H. P., Lublin, F. D., I Wolinsky, J. S. (2001). Recommended diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: Guidelines from the International Panel on the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Annals of Neurology, 50, 121-127. Wynn, D., Kaufman, M., Montalban, X., Vollmer, T., Simon, J., Elkins, J., I Rose, J. W. (2010). Daclizumab in active relapsing multiple sclerosis (CHOICE study): A phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on trial with interferon beta. Lancet Neurology, 9, 381- 390.
Forsyth, K., Taylor, R., Kramer, J., Prior, S., Richie, L., Whitehead, J., Owen, C., & Melton, M.
The clinical picture of the disease is rich and variated. Usually it starts with motor symptoms together with visual disturbances. The later progression is depending on the part of the CNS affected. MS can present itself in several clinical courses with the relapsing remmitting beeing the most common in the begging. The secondary progressive course is a sequent and gives a much worse prognosis. The benign form, even though it’s not well defined, is usually a random find in MRI and no clinical symptoms. In the most severe cases MS can lead to death.
... resulting impairment to the CNS. The first group of mice exhibited a pattern of CNS inflammation that resembled that of the most common subtype of MS, RRMS, with lesions filled with macrophages, a type of immune defender cell. The second group of mice displayed inflammation deep in the CNS tissues and in the optic nerve with lesions filled with neutrophils, another type of immune cell. Both groups of mice were given antibody drugs similar to drugs being developed against MS in humans. The effects were observed over time and results showed that some of the drugs inhibited disease in the first group of mice but did not inhibit disease in the second group. Thus, as Mark Kroenke (2008), the study’s first author and a Ph.D. student in immunology at U-M stated, "That's our proof that these really are different mechanisms of disease" (Kroenke et al., 2008).
It is also estimated that approximately two and half million people are living with the disease... The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars that are present in the brain and spinal cord is seen on an MRI. An autoimmune disorder is where a person’s immune system mistakes its own white blood cells as invaders and begins to attack itself damaging healthy body tissue. In these types of disorders, the immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy cells and antigens, which are foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Because of the damage, it does to the nerve cells; nerve signals can either slow down or stop completely. Inflammation, or the body’s reaction to infection, is what causes this nerve damage to happen. Multiple sclerosis is most commonly seen in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord and often leads to physical and cognitive
The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are variable and unpredictable as the disease impacts each person’s nerves differently. While this is true there are some symptoms are common to many people suffering from MS. Some of these are fatigue; which is the most prominent symptom as it occurs in about 80 percent of people, walking difficulties, numbness of the face, body or extremities, spasticity, weakness, vision problems, dizziness and vertigo, bladder problems, sexual problems, bowel problems, chronic pain, cognitive changes, emotional changes, and depression, which is a very common symptom. (MS Symptoms). Some of the symptoms of MS that are not as common in patients are speech problems, swallowing problems, tremor, seizures, breathing problems, itching, headaches, hearing loss, and other problems that can arise as a result of the
Multiple Sclerosis is a nervous system disease that affects the spinal cord and the brain by damaging the myelin sheaths that protects nerve cells. Destroyed myelin prevents messages from communicating and sending properly from the brain, through the spinal cord, to internal body parts. In the United States, more than 350,000 people are diagnosed with this disease. Anyone can get this disease, but it is more common among Caucasian women. MS symptoms begin between the ages 20-40 and are caused by nerve lesions being present in multiple areas of the Central Nervous System, symptoms differ on the lesion’s location.
Multiple sclerosis is an immune mediated disease, although many researchers argue it is an autoimmune disease. MS causes the body to create an abnormal immune response to the Central Nervous System (CNS). The CNS is the body’s processing center. It consists of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The axon of these nerve cells are coated with a myelin sheath, a fatty substance that surrounds the nerve endings. This sheath protects and insulates the axons allowing electrical impulses to pass freely from one nerve cell to the next. MS causes the body’s immune system to produce T-cells that pass from the bloodstream and into the central nervous system. The T-cells directly attack the nerve cells as if they were a foreign substance. They destroy the myelin coating around nerve fibers. When any part of the myelin is damaged scar tissue forms around the nerve ending. This demyelination and scaring causes lesions on the nerves. The lesions prevent impulses from traveling throughout the body and hinders the body’s response to afferent and efferent signals being sent to and from the brain.
Multiple sclerosis was first discovered in 1868 by a neurologist by the name of Jean Martin- Charcot. Multiple sclerosis receives its name from the distinctive areas of scar tissue with the formation of damaged myelin sheaths. Multiple Sclerosis is referred to as an immune- mediated response that targets the central nervous system, including the spinal cord, the brain, and other parts of the body. The central nervous system is usually targeted by an abnormal response to the human body’s immune system causing an attack on the myelin coated fibers around nerve fibers. Generally, this occurs due to inflammation of myelin in the brain, causing lesions or plaques to form. Since myelin sheaths in the nervous system are there to increase nerve impulses,
It is clear that Multiple Sclerosis is a dreadful disease. Its multiple variations not only induce neurological debilitation but it can also bring about other disorders. Unfortunately, a cure hasn’t been created yet but medications and a healthy lifestyle can make the victim’s life much easier.
Symptoms associated with Multiple sclerosis consist in a wide range. MS could cause a numbness of the limbs, loss of vision, or even paralysis. (2) There is no specific set of symptoms that a patient may experience because MS may have affected different parts of the nervous system. Some patients may experience a loss of balance, unstable walking, clumsiness, blurred vision, spasticity (a spring-like resistance to moving or being moved), abnormal speech, memory loss, impotence, and bladder problems are to name a few. (1) In any one patient the symptoms may vary with each attack. (7) The symptoms can last up to days or...
MS is a chronic "autoimmune" disease of the central nervous system. The oligodendrocytes decease and the myelin sheath around nerves is destroyed. This process takes place in different areas of the CNS. The openings that emerge because of demyelination are filled by reactive astrocytes (astrogliosis) and develop scar tissue (sclerotic plaque). After demyelination a neuron can no longer effectively conduct electrical signals. Neurological characteristics of patients suffering from MS may include temporary blindness, paralysis, disorientation, double vision and sensory disturbances (Dongxu, H. F. Lee, & D'Souza, 2015) (Bruck, 2005).
Multiple Sclerosis is a demyelinating disease cause a widespread degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) which gradually results in severe neurological deficits. The disease is characterized by remissions and relapse, erratic onset and duration is flare up acutely. Each relapse may involve different area in white matter in central nervous system (CNS) .
Multiple Sclerosis, also known as, MS is a rare and crippling disease of the central nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis is the result of the protective membrane, the myelin sheath that covers the axon of a nerve cell which gets destroyed by inflammation or scarring. When the nerve cell gets destroyed it results in the nerve signal stopping or slowing down. The damage to the nerve cells are a result of the immune systems cells attacking the nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis is a very rare disease. MS affects less than 200,000 people per year. Of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis majority of the people are women. Multiple Sclerosis has to be diagnosed by a doctor after laboratory test and imaging test have been completed. Most people who have been diagnosed with MS
Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease that attacks the brain and nervous system. This paper will explore the origin of this disease, where it was first discovered, and why they believe it began in this particular region. Although doctors are still researching how and what may causes Multiple Sclerosis, we will also explore the epidemiology and genetics that could influence a diagnosis. Discovering the causes of this disease leads doctors to believe they will also find new ways to treat and help those suffering. Exploring new technology will be discussed in this paper and how many scientists hope to pinpoint the exact cause which is key to prevention. We will discuss people that may be more at risk of developing this disease and why.
Barker, V., Giles, H., Hajek, C., Ota, H., Noels, K., Lim, T-S., & Somera, L. (2008).