Multiple Sclerosis: The Nervous System

The nervous system is the most important system in the body. It transmits impulses to and from the brain. Disruption of the nerve cells and fibers that transmit the messages severely impairs the body's ability to carry out complex function. Once a disruption occurs, one may never recover and neurological function will steadily degrade. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that disrupts this network. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease in young adults between 20 and 40 years of age. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning that it results from the body's immune system attacking its own cells. In this case, the immune system attacks myelin, the substance that coats nerve fibres, causing inflammation and damage to
It is confirmed that the symptoms are caused by the immune system damaging myelin, nerve fibres, and neurons in the brain and spinal cord, but the reason for the attack is unknown. The common theory is that the immune system mistakenly identified the brain cells as foreign (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015). MS is hard to diagnose prior to the appearance of symptoms. Those with MS first undergo Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) which is the first neurological event that suggests MS. It lasts for at least 24 hours, with symptoms indicating the number and severity of lesions. Physicians then perform MRI scans. Once plaques are found, the patient is diagnosed with one of the four forms of MS. Most patients are initially diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting MS where there are temporary relapses of symptoms. Most with RRMS transition into Secondary Progressive MS where symptoms worsen steadily over time, with or without relapses. A small number may be diagnosed with Primary-Progressive MS is a form where symptoms continuously slowly worsen without relapses. Progressive-Relapsing MS is the most rare form. Symptoms worsen from the start, but there are acute
Current research suggests dozens of genes and hundreds of variations that increase the risk of MS, but genes are not the sole factor: identical twins only have a 1 in 3 chance of both having MS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015). Smoking leads to a greater risk of MS. The immune response to certain viruses such as Epstein Barr Virus increases inclination for MS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015). Statistics have also shown that those near the equator have a lower risk for MS. Scientifically, this is because Vitamin D from the sun helps regulate the immune