MAIN Health Diseases Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis affects about 2.5 million people worldwide. Approximately 400,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with MS.

About 200 people are diagnosed with MS each week. Anyone may develop the disease, but there are some groups that have a higher risk of developing this disease.

• MS is two to three times more common in women.
  
  
• While onset can be at any age, most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
  
  
• Studies indicate that genetic factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited.
  
  Estimated risk of a sibling of a person diagnosed with MS developing the disease is small (3.0-5.0%), increasing to 29.5% if one or both parents have MS. Risk to the offspring of a person with MS is 2.0-3.0% and higher if both parents have MS.
  
  
• MS occurs more commonly among people with European ancestry.
  
  The highest incidence of cases are found in Western Europe, Northern Europe, Canada, Russia, Israel. Parts of the Northern US, New Zealand, South & East Australia also have a higher number of people diagnosed with MS. People of African, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds can also get MS, although the incidence is much lower in these areas.

MS is a neuro-muscular disease which simple means that the nerves and muscles are involved. MS causes nerve cells in the Central Nervous System to degenerate. This causes the voluntary muscles that they control to cease responding.

The nerves in the brain and spinal cord are covered by a myelin sheath. This cover acts, like the cover on electrical wires, to keep the energy passing along the nerves. If the sheath is damaged, the nerves cannot function properly. Just as an electrical wire will spark and short if the cover is frayed or broken.

In MS, the immune system attacks the covering of the nerves and causes the signal to the muscles to short circuit. As the damage progresses, the body gradually loses control of the muscles. The course of the disease is marked by remissions and relapses.

Multiple sclerosis causes gradual loss of muscle control. Weakness, muscle tremors and difficulty with speech may be the earliest symptoms. The first episodes may be so mild that only the person involved notices. Because the disease goes into remission followed by relapses, the early episodes may not get diagnosed as MS.

As the disease progresses people with MS lose the ability to move their arms and legs. Physical therapy and assistive devices allow patients to remain mobile even after the disease begins to affect their limbs.

Speech muscles are also affected and speech therapy or speech synthesizers and computers are often used to keep communication channels open. In the final stages of this disease the muscles needed to breathe stop working and respirators may be used to maintain lung function for as long as possible.

The available data suggest that there are multiple causes of multiple sclerosis. The risk of developing MS if one family member is affected is relatively small. There have been studies where one identical twin develops MS and the other remains healthy.

The risk of getting MS depends on a complex and not well understood interaction of genetic and environmental factors. One of the environmental factors is the distinct geographic pattern. What the other factors are is not known at this point. Researchers continue to study the disease to isolate these factors.

While there is no cure for MS, there have been advances in the treatments and medications used to slow the progress of the disease. Evidence from controlled randomized clinical trials suggests that all currently approved drugs for the treatment of MS decrease the relapse rate and slow the course of the inflammation within the central nervous system.

There are many drugs currently in use to treat the condition and the symptoms of MS. Interferon beta drugs have had success with reducing the CNS inflammation and increasing the time between relapses. Glatiramer acetate or GA (Copaxone), Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) and most recently, Natalizumab (Tysabri) have also been shown successful in slowing the course of MS.

Other drugs in clinical trials are showing positive results. Complementary and alternative therapies such as diet and nutritional supplements and acupuncture, are also available. Some of these remedies are said to be helpful with the underlying disease, but most focus on relieving the discomfort of the symptoms. With current treatments, the expected life span of someone diagnosed with MS is close to the average and the quality of life is also vastly improved.

People who are diagnosed with MS can look forward to living longer and slowing down the progress of the disease to avoid the disabling effects for a much longer time than was the case even ten years ago. Support groups for patients and caregivers can provide ideas for successfully coping with the changes in lifestyle and the emotional stress of living with increasingly reduced mobility.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society - The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and its network of chapters nationwide in the USA, promote research, educate, advocate on critical issues, and organize a wide range of programs— including support for the newly diagnosed and those living with MS over time.

Gene Reviews - Multiple Sclerosis Overview - Offers information on the disease, diagnosis and treatments as well as the latest information on the genetic implications of having a family member with MS. Provides links to organizations for further information and support.

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation - Global outreach in an array of languages provides up to date information on symptoms, treatments, research and real people living with MS including a community section to send and receive messages, create “buddy lists”, upload a portrait and contribute to online polls.

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) - Information on all aspects of MS includes Medicare Part D Information, listings of support groups, suggestions for dealing with accessibility issues at home and in public places and much more.

MS Australia - Information on advocacy for ALS, clinical trials, stories of personal courage in dealing with this disease, the latest research plus facts for the patient and professionals are just the beginning of the resources you'll find on this site.

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.