Multiple sclerosis is a complex, autoimmune disease caused by damage of the fatty myelin sheaths around axons of the brain and spinal cord which leads to demyelination, lesions (scaring) and inflammation1, 2, 3. This damage leads to disruption of nerve impulse along axons resulting in the many symptoms seen in multiple sclerosis patients. Although its exact etiology is unknown, current research indicates that multiple sclerosis is a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. It has been established that multiple sclerosis is not inherited but research is being focused on genetic influence and suceptibility3. Like many other diseases with genetic components to their etiology, disease risk for multiple sclerosis can be calculated based on genetic scans in search of certain genetic markers or combinations of markers4. Recent studies show that, polymorphisms in the Interleukin-2 (IL2)/ Interleukin-2 Receptor Alpha (IL2RA) pathway1 and in the Interleukin-7 (IL7) /Interleukin-7 Receptor Alpha (IL7RA) pathway2 are linked to increased risk and susceptibility of multiple scler...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the myelination of the central nervous system, leading to numerous issues regarding muscle strength, coordination, balance, sensation, vision, and even some cognitive defects. Unfortunately, the etiology of MS is not known, however, it is generally thought of and accepted as being an autoimmune disorder inside of the central nervous system (Rietberg, et al. 2004). According to a study (Noonan, et al. 2010) on the prevalence of MS, the disease affects more than 1 million people across the world, and approximately 85% of those that are affected will suffer from unpredictably occurring sessions of exacerbations and remissions. The report (Noonan, et al. 2010) found that the prevalence of MS was much higher in women than in men, and that it was also higher in non-Hispanic whites than in other racial or ethnic groups throughout the 3 regions of the United States that were studied.
Chen, S., Sayana, P., Zhang, X., Le, W. (2013). Genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: and update. Molecular Neurodegeneration 8, 1-15
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, specifically the motor neurons. Motor neurons carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to all of the muscles in your body. When a person has ALS, they are not able to generate enough motor neurons, and the brain cannot then initiate and control muscle movement. After some time, when the disease gets progressively worse, the patient has difficulty speaking, swallowing, breathing, etc. These kinds of tasks are essential to the body, so when it gets to a certain point, the patient dies. There are several other names for this disease, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a motor neuron type disease. The disease was first discovered in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. Though we have known of this disease and its capabilities for well over a century; there is still information that is unclear. This past decade has been successful for research, giving us new information and optimism for years ahead. New hope is arriving in thoughts that stem cell research and gene therapy will advance our knowledge for a possible cure.
According to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The central nervous system (CNS) comprises of the brain and the spinal cord. CNS is coated and protected by myelin sheath that is made of fatty tissues (Slomski, 2005). The inflammation and damage of the myelin sheath causing it to form a scar (sclerosis). This results in a number of physical and mental symptoms, including weakness, loss of coordination, and loss of speech and vision. The way the disease affect people is always different; some people experience only a single attack and recover quickly, while others condition degenerate over time (Wexler, 2013). Hence, the diagnosis of MS is mostly done by eliminating the symptoms of other diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both men and women, but generally, it is more common in women more than men. The disease is most usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, however, it can occur at any age. Someone with a family history of the disease is more likely to suffer from it. Although MS is not
Differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is very broad in nature. About hundred conditions can imitate multiple sclerosis, this figure is rather an under-estimate. However, it is impractical and tedious to perform such differential diagnosis routinely to rule out multiple sclerosis. Instead, key features of each patient allow a rational consideration of relevant alternate diagnosis. Potential multiple sclerosis “mimics” can be easily distinguished from other patients as most relapsing onset patients have either optic neuritis or myelitic syndromes.
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.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is understood as an autoimmune disease, a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. In Multiple Sclerosis, the patient’s own cells & antibodies attack the fatty myelin sheath that protects and insulates nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord, the two components of the CNS. This ultimately causes damage to the nerve cells and without the insulation the myelin sheath provides, nerve communication is disrupted. Hence, Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by symptoms that reflect central nervous system involvement (Luzzio, 2014).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that typically is diagnosed in the second or third decade of life. Normally, nerves are enclosed in myelin sheaths that help facilitate transmission of nerve impulses within the CNS and the peripheral nervous system throughout the body. In patients with MS, the myelin sheath is damaged and eventually degenerates, causing patches of scar tissue called plaques or lesions to occur anywhere randomly on the myelin sheath (Ruto, 2013). This results in impaired nerve conductivity, which interferes with message transmission between the brain and the other parts of the body. As a result, impulse transmission is altered, distorted, short-circuited, or completely absent. This interference in impulse transmission creates muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, and possibly muscle spasms with partial or complete paralysis. Multiple sclerosis also can result in visual impairment and alteration of cognitive abilities, as well as pain, numbness, or tingling sensations (Ruto, 2013).
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.
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.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system, attacking the brain and the spinal cord. MS attacks myelin, the fatty material that acts as a protective coating to the body's nerves. (1) The inflammation of the nerve tissues covering the nerves can affect any part of the nervous system and varies from person to person. (7) Normal nerve function decreases with the onset of MS because MS causes scars to form on the covering of the nerve. Multiple Sclerosis acquires this term because it literally means scars. (1,7) The covering of the nerve with myelin is very important so that the nerve can transmit signals rapidly and efficiently. Demylelination enables the nerve to carry impulses properly by either blocking or slowing transmission and this is why the various symptoms of MS occur. (1)
Wiley Online Library, 2013. The Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis [online] Available at: <. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08143.x/abstract> [Accessed 05 December 2013].
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease. The Central Nervous System (CNS) is attacked by the immune system; creating lesions that interrupt the correct signaling of nerves, spinal cord, and brain (Frankel, & James, 2011). Inhibiting development of this disease is crucial for maintaining quality of life and fatigue for individuals with MS. There has been vast amount of research on the effect of various exercise training programs, and their benefits for MS (Motl, & Gosney, 2008, Krupp, 2003, Chen, Fan, Hu, Yang, & Li, 2013). Balance, aerobic, and strength training have been the main focus of most researchers; causing an interest in what training mode is most effective for improving quality of life and lower fatigue. It is critical to examine and contrast the effectiveness of a variety of exercise programs, because if training is completed effectively it can drastically improve quality of life and fatigue for individuals with MS.
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,