What is Multiple Sclerosis?

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disorder that affects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. A fatty substance (called myelin) surrounds and insulates nerve fibers and facilitates the conduction of nerve impulse transmissions.

MS is characterized by intermittent damage to myelin (called demyelination) caused by the destruction of specialized cells (oligodendrocytes) that form the substance. Demyelination causes scarring and hardening (sclerosis) of nerve fibers usually in the spinal cord, brain stem, and optic nerves, which slows nerve impulses and results in weakness, numbness, pain, and vision loss.

Because different nerves are affected at different times, MS symptoms often worsen (exacerbate), improve, and develop in different areas of the body. Early symptoms of the disorder may include vision changes (e.g., blurred vision, blind spots) and muscle weakness.

MS can progress steadily or cause acute attacks (exacerbations) followed by partial or complete reduction in symptoms (remission). Most patients with the disease have a normal lifespan.

Types
Multiple sclerosis is classified according to frequency and severity of neurological symptoms, the ability of the CNS to recover, and the accumulation of damage.

Primary progressive MS causes steady progression of symptoms with few periods of remission.

Relapsing-Remitting MS causes worsening of symptoms (exacerbations) that occur with increasing frequency, along with periods of reduced symptoms (remission).

Secondary progressive MS is initially similar to relapsing-remitting MS and eventually progresses to MS with no remission.

Relapsing-Progressive MS causes accumulative damage during exacerbations and remissions.

Incidence and Prevalence

MS is the most common neurological cause of debilitation in young people and affects about 500,000 people in the United States. Worldwide, the incidence is approximately 0.1%. Northern Europe and the northern United States have the highest prevalence, with more than 30 cases per 100,000 people.

MS is more common in women and in Caucasians. The average age of onset is between 18 and 35, but the disorder may develop at any age. Children of parents with MS have a higher rate of incidence (30–50%).

Other Answers:
recurrent autoimmune disease, which damages central nervous system

More: http://www.mscrossroads.org/
www.mult-sclerosis.org

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease that involves the central nervous system---like the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It can cause problems with muscle control and strength, vision, balance, sensation, and mental functions.

A disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control. Multiple sclerosis is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system destroys myelin. Myelin is a substance that contains both protein and fat (lipid), serving as a nerve insulator and helping in the transmission of nerve signals.

It's a neurological disease, where there is a short circuit in your nerve pathway. If you can imagine your nerve like a water hose with holes in it. The electrical impulse will not go thru to the nerve endings and you can not move that part of the body. You can look on the Internet and learn more about it.

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What is Multiple Sclerosis?

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