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Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological
disorder that affects the central nervous system -
the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common
neurological cause of debilitation in young
people. The age of onset is often between 28 and
35, but persons at any age, including children and
the elderly, can be affected. It is most common in
women.
Initial attacks may be brief and sometimes mild
enough to be unrecognizable. In some MS patients,
symptoms temporarily disappear then reappear for
unknown reasons, after being dormant for an
extended period. Generally, the first full-fledged
bout, lasting weeks or months, takes place between
the ages of 20 and 40, and further attacks follow
at sporadic intervals. Inflammation of the central
nervous system tracts results in scarring
(sclerosis), and although myelin can normally
repair itself, the scarring happens very fast and
can become permanent. The effects of multiple
sclerosis range from relatively minor physical
annoyances to major disabilities. About 25% of
people with multiple sclerosis become
wheelchair-bound, while more than 70% eventually
have limited capacity.
Incidence
MS affects more than 350,000 persons in the United
States. Around the world, northern Europe and the
northern tier of the United States have the
highest prevalence, with rates exceeding 30 cases
per 100,000 population. The toll on society is
large, as many people with the disorder are
affected during what normally would be the most
productive years of their lives.
Anatomy
Normally, most nerves in the body are insulated by
a protective sheath of fatty substance called
myelin. Multiple sclerosis causes demyelination,
in which this protective sheath becomes inflamed
and ultimately destroyed. MS can cause loss of
muscular coordination, impaired vision, and
incontinence.
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