Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable neurological disease that affects nearly a half a million people in the Uk & USA. A new case is diagnosed every hour. It can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, and even paralysis and blindness. These problems might be permanent, or they might come and go.

Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can last the rest of their lives. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are giving hope to people affected by the disease.



Who gets MS?



Twice as many women as men have MS, with the onset of symptoms occurring most often between the ages of 20 and 40. Studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among Caucasians, especially those of northern European ancestry, but people of African, and Asian, backgrounds are not immune.



What are the typical symptoms of MS?



Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person and from time to time in the same person. For instance: You may experience abnormal fatigue, while another person might have severe vision problems. While one person with MS may have loss of balance and muscle coordination, making walking and everyday tasks difficult to perform, another person with MS may have slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, bladder, and bowel problems. Even severe symptoms may disappear completely and the person will regain lost functions. In the worst cases, people have partial or complete paralysis on a permanent basis.

What causes these symptoms?

In MS, symptoms result when inflammation and breakdown occur in myelin, the protective insulation surrounding the nerve fibers of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened "sclerotic" patches of tissue. Such lesions are called "plaques," and appear in "multiple" places within the central nervous system. This can be compared to a loss of insulating material around an electrical wire, which interferes with the transmission of signals. Some nerve fibres are actually severed in association with the loss of myelin.

Is MS fatal?

MS is not a fatal disease. People who have MS can be expected to have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.

Does MS always cause paralysis?

No. The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled. Two-thirds of people who have MS remain able to walk, though many will need an aid, such as a cane or crutches.

Is MS contagious or inherited?

No. MS is neither contagious nor directly inherited, although studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease.

Can MS be cured?

Not yet. However, advances in treating and understanding MS are achieved daily and the progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms and lead more productive lives. There are now several FDA-approved medications that have been shown to affect the underlying course of MS.



Why is MS so difficult to diagnose?

In early MS, elusive symptoms that come and go might indicate any number of possible disorders. Some people have symptoms that are very difficult for physicians to interpret, and these people must "wait and see." While no single laboratory test is yet available to prove or rule out MS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a great help in reaching a definitive diagnosis.