Title: Multiple Sclerosis
I. Introduction:
A. Attention: According to Michael J. Olek, the writer of “Multiple Sclerosis -Etiology, Diagnosis, and New Treatment Strategies” multiple sclerosis (MS) afflicts approximately 250,000 to 350,000 individuals in the United States and is the most common autoimmune disease involving the nervous system.
B. Credibility: Approximately 6 years ago my mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which has progressively gotten worse almost resulting in complete disability.
C. Thesis Statement: With autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis on a steady rise over the past decade, three major factors must be considered: the possible causes, common symptoms, and treatment of the disease.
D. Preview: 1. Possible causes of Multiple Sclerosis. 2. Common symptoms that characterize the disease. 3. How to treat the disease once it has been properly diagnosed.
[Transition: Before I move on to the three main points, I feel it is essential to give a brief summary of what Multiple Sclerosis is on order to provide an understanding for the reasons of the common symptoms and treatments.]
II. Body A. What is Multiple Sclerosis? 1. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological autoimmune disease, which involves the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves). 2. MS is an incurable and progressive which means there is a constant degradation of nerve cells (neurodegeneration) and lasts a lifetime once it develops. 3. The purpose of the nervous system is to convey messages in the form of electrical currents that travel along the nerves (axons) to the muscles and tissues, which allows us to move (analogous to an electrical wire). 4. In order to allow the efficient transfer of nerve impulses along the axons to the tissues, the nerves are insulated by a glycolipid substance known as myelin (i.e. how metal wires are insulated by rubber or plastic). 5. When
Bibliography: 1. (2011). El Paso multiple sclerosis (ms) study . Environmental & Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology, Retrieved from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox/elpasostudy.shtm 2. What is multiple sclerosis? (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/what-is-ms/index.aspx 3. Rog, D., & Burgess, M. (2010). Multiple sclerosis. (pp. 22-23). London: Class Publishing. 4. Olek, M. (2005). Multiple sclerosis etiology, diagnosis, and new treatment strategies. (p. 103). Totowa: Humana Press Inc.