Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. In a person with Multiple Sclerosis the immune system is quite active and views its own nervous system as foreign, leading the immune system to then attack the nervous system; this is known as an autoimmune response. Multiple Sclerosis occurs when myelin, the material which insulates nerve cells, in the brain and spinal cord is damaged. Myelin allows nerves to transmit information quickly; the speed and efficiency of this information transmission are what allows the body to perform the coordinated movement with little conscious effort. The disease can cause the nerves to deteriorate or become permanently damaged.
Myelin in the central nervous system is produced by a cell called an oligo, in Multiple Sclerosis both the myelin …show more content…
Some of the most common symptoms include numbness or weakness in limbs; generally the legs or on one side of the body at a time. Partial or complete vision loss, again, generally in one eye at a time, may also be accompanied by pain while moving the eye; this may be preceded by prolonged double vision. Tingling or pain in different parts of the body as well as electric shock sensations occurring while bending the neck forward and dizziness are also quite common. Outwardly visible symptoms include an unsteady gait, tremors, slurred speech, and fatigue.
Multiple Sclerosis is divided into several subtypes, these included relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive, and progressing-relapsing.
Relapsing-remitting is generally clearly defined acute attacks with either full recovery or some residual deficit at recovery; approximately 80% of cases being as