Multiple Sclerosis Overview
Glossary of MS Terms
MS Introduction
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disorder that can cause a variety of symptoms, which for many, can flare-up and then subside over the course of days, months, or even years. The cause of MS is not yet fully understood, however researchers continue to search for answers.
History of MS
In 1951, cortisone (a steroid) was first used to treat MS relapses (also known as exacerbations, attacks, or symptom flare-ups). Cortisone was found to reduce the severity of the relapse and to shorten its duration, but it had no long-term effects on the disease.
The MS Process and Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. The CNS consists of the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. With MS, areas of the CNS become inflamed, damaging the protective covering that surrounds and insulates the nerves. In addition to the myelin, over time, the axons and nerve cells within the CNS may also become damaged.
Who Gets MS
Most people with MS experience their first symptoms and are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although individuals of any age may be diagnosed with MS. More women are diagnosed with MS than men, and the area where someone lives, as well as race and ethnic background, also helps to determine his or her risk of developing the disease.
Type of MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects each person differently. The most common types of MS are:
1) Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)
2) Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS)
3) Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS)
MS Relapses
Relapses occur with relapsing-remitting, progressive-relapsing, and sometimes secondary-progressive forms of MS. Relapses do not occur with primary-progressive MS, although patients may experience day-to-day fluctuations in how they feel.
The Immune System and MS
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell and play a strong role in the body’s defense system. Another type of white blood cell is the macrophage, and this works to ingest and destroy foreign substances.
Possible Causes of MS
Despite decades of research, the exact cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains undetermined. However, a combination of factors appears to be involved, and researchers have identified a number of these factors.
Diagnosing MS and Evaluating Disease Activity
Diagnosing and evaluating MS disease activity is most reliably done by neurologists through a neurological history and examination. Tests that can indicate MS and rule out “MS mimickers” (other diseases that resemble MS but have other causes) are also performed.
Additional evaluate tools for MS
Additional tools are available to measure disease activity. These are used mainly in clinical trials to help evaluate disease progression as well as changes in specific symptoms, such as fatigue, strength, mobility, vision, cognition, and others.
The Importance of Long-Term Treatment for MS
A 21-year prospective study of individuals (with relapsing-remitting MS) who began therapy early in the disease found that they experienced a longer lifespan than those who did not begin treatment as early. Of those who didn’t start treatment early, MS-related pulmonary infection was the most common cause of mortality over the 21-year period.
The Future of MS Research and Treatments
Targets for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments include the many components and functions of the immune system response. In general, treatments have been developed to block, reduce, or deplete those cells and other agents that promote inflammation and/or damage to the central nervous system (CNS).