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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:51 Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)
2:00 Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
2:51 Factors that may increase risk of Multiple Sclerosis
3:21 Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
4:09 Diagnosis and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
4:40 Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata, is the most common demyelinating disease,[8] in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged.[3] This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to transmit signals, resulting in a range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems.[1][9][10] Specific symptoms can include double vision, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, and trouble with sensation or coordination.[3][11][12] MS takes several forms, with new symptoms either occurring in isolated attacks (relapsing forms) or building up over time (progressive forms).[13][14] In the relapsing forms of MS, between attacks, symptoms may disappear completely, although some permanent neurological problems often remain, especially as the disease advances.[14]
While the cause is unclear, the underlying mechanism is thought to be either destruction by the immune system or failure of the myelin-producing cells.[4] Proposed causes for this include genetics and environmental factors, such as viral infections.[15][9][16] MS is usually diagnosed based on the presenting signs and symptoms and the results of supporting medical tests.[5]
There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis.[3] Treatments attempt to improve function after an attack and prevent new attacks.[9] Physical therapy and occupational therapy can help with people's ability to function.[3] Many people pursue alternative treatments, despite a lack of evidence of benefit.[17] The long-term outcome is difficult to predict; better outcomes are more often seen in women, those who develop the disease early in life, those with a relapsing course, and those who initially experienced few attacks.[18]
Multiple sclerosis is the most common immune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system.[19] There are nearly one million people with MS in the United States in 2022,[6] and in 2020, about 2.8 million people were affected globally, with rates varying widely in different regions and among different populations.[7] The disease usually begins between the ages of twenty and fifty and is twice as common in women as in men.[2] MS was first described in 1868 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.[20] The name multiple sclerosis refers to the numerous glial scars (or sclerae - essentially plaques or lesions) that develop on the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.[20]