| Subject: The Battle of Multiple Sclerosis |
Author:
Amy Smith
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Date Posted: 06:55:21 04/16/04 Fri
The Battle of Multiple Sclerosis
Recently, I have had a close friend of mine be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I did not know too much about the disease and began to research it. Multiple Sclerosis, most commonly known as MS, is a disease of the central nervous system that attacks and destroys tissues in the brain and spinal cord. MS affects the nerve function of a person, and can cause a range of symptoms such as numbing and difficulty walking to blindness and paralysis. There is an estimated 2.5 million people in the world that are affected by this disease. Every day the number of diagnosed cases of MS continues to rise. Although there are treatments for the symptoms of MS, there currently is no cure for the disease. Will there ever be a cure for Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is caused from a misdirected immune-system attack against nerve cells. This attack destroys the fatty material, myelin that covers nerve fibers in the central nerve system. Myelin is the insulation that speeds the transmission of nerve signals. When it is damaged the flow of the transmission is interrupted, resulting in neurological problems.
Currently, the cause of MS is unknown. Studies have shown that genetics, an infectious agent, or a faulty immune system play a role in a person contracting the disease. There is usually a combination of these factors that cause a person to contract MS. It is most common that the infectious agent occurs early in life, before puberty. Other factors that seem to play a role are geographical location, race and gender. People that lived the first fifteen years of their life in a temperate climate have a higher chance of having MS. The disease seems to be more common in Caucasians, and women. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.
Even though there is no cure for MS, there are several treatments for the symptoms. Some of the treatments are drugs that slow the course of the disease and slow the increase of disability over time. Other drugs can relieve spasticity, fatigue and bladder problems. Exercise and rest are natural forms of treatment that help a person with MS maintain an active lifestyle.
Currently, researchers are trying to focus on ways to stop the damage that occurs with MS, and also ways to naturally reverse the damage. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has recently committed $12.4 million to support new research projects that aid in the understanding and reversing of the nerve tissue damage. There are top scientists that are researching multiple sclerosis and many people and organizations that are in constant support of finding a cure.
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