Multiple Sclerosis Research Paper

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Multiple sclerosis or MS, is a disease which causes the demyelination of nerve cell axons in the brain, spinal cord, and other nerve cells. Although MS has been the subject of intense study and research, little is known about it, and treatments are still only occasionally effective (Hafler 2004). While it is difficult to understand completely what causes the disease and how it works, we can draw conclusions based on what groups of people are most affected by it. This allows us to discover what factors the disease depends on. For example, it is known that the environment has a significant effect on the contraction of the disease. It is much more common in temperate climates, and it has been proposed that this is due to sunlight exposure or pests …show more content…
The disease is caused by lymphocytes which attack myelin sheaths around axons, and the axons themselves (Compston; Coles, 2008). When this occurs, the lymphocytes leech into the neural tissue and use their body defense mechanisms to destroy cells that help to conduct electric pulses throughout the nervous system.
The reason for this type of lymphocyte activity is still being research, however there are many factors that contribute to one contracting the disease. The most common person that multiple sclerosis with affect is a person who is between 20 and 60, lives in a temperate climate, and is Northern European (Birnbaum, 2009). The cause of the disease is still unknown, however there is evidence to support to genes and the environment play a role (Birnbaum, …show more content…
We need more research to be done. One of the more fundamental areas of research being conducted involves looking at the genes of the infected. Because 15-20% of people with MS have a family history of it, there are certain genetic factors associated that can give insight to how the disease works (Hafler 2004). As we are able to gather more data on genes of individual patients, we can point to risk factors of MS (Hafler 2004). This allows doctors to more effectively treat the disease with the correct medications or procedures. If we are able to change just a few of the genes in a patient, their chances of contraction or worsening symptoms can be eliminated (Hafler
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