What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue. MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness. These problems may be permanent, or they may come and go. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although rare individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MS is not considered a fatal disease as the vast majority of people with it live a normal life-span. But until the disease can be stopped forever, they may face a struggle to live productively, often with increasing limitations.

Who gets MS? Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns. Twice as many women as men have MS. Studies indicate that genetic factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among people with northern European ancestry, but people of African, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune. back to top How many people have MS? There are between 85,000 and 340,000 people with MS in the UK. MS has a large effect on our society, socially, psychologically and economically.Recent surveys have shown that 10,000 children in the UK may have MS, and that the true number of people with MS could be four times the official figure that's 10 MILLION people world-wide.

What are the typical symptoms of MS? Symptoms of MS are unpredictable, vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. For example: One person may experience abnormal fatigue, while another might have severe vision problems. A person with MS could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult; another person with MS could have slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems. Even major symptoms may disappear completely, and the person will regain lost functions. In severe MS, people have symptoms on a permanent basis including partial or complete paralysis, and difficulties with vision, cognition, speech, and/or elimination. back to top What causes these symptoms? MS symptoms result when an inflammatory immune-system attack affects myelin, the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened sclerotic tissue. Some underlying nerve fibers are also permanently severed. The damage appears in multiple places within the central nervous system. Myelin is often compared to insulating material around an electrical wire; loss of myelin interferes with the transmission of nerve signals. back to top Is MS fatal? No, MS is not considered a fatal disease. While in very rare cases MS is so malignantly progressive it is terminal, most people who have MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.

Does MS always cause paralysis? No. Moreover, the majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled. Two-thirds of people who have MS remain able to walk, though most will need an aid, such as a cane or crutches, and some will use a scooter or wheelchair because of fatigue, weakness, or balance problems.

Is MS contagious or inherited? No. MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited. Studies do indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease.

Can MS be cured? Not yet. There are approved medications that have been shown to modify or slow down the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms and lead productive lives. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year, and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging.

What medications and treatments are available? It is recommended that treatment with one of the disease-modifying drugs be accessed as soon as possible after the diagnosis of a relapsing form (the most common kind) of MS. These drugs help to lessen the frequency and severity of MS attacks, reduce the accumulation of lesions (areas of damage) in the brain, and may slow the progression of disability. There are also approved disease-modifying drugs for reducing disability and/or the frequency of attacks in patients with secondary-progressive, progressive-relapsing or rapidly worsening relapsing-remitting MS. This drug is a chemotherapeutic agent. The lifetime dose is limited to prevent heart damage. In addition to drugs that address the basic disease process, there are many therapies for MS symptoms such as spasticity, pain, bladder problems, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, weakness, and cognitive problems. People should consult a knowledgeable physician to develop a comprehensive approach to managing their MS. back to top Why is MS so difficult to diagnose? In early MS, symptoms that might indicate any number of possible disorders come and go. Some people have symptoms that are very difficult for physicians to interpret, and these people must wait and see. While no single laboratory test is yet available to prove or rule out MS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a great help in reaching a definitive diagnosis. back to top What are the different types of MS? In an effort to develop a common language for evaluating and researching MS, an international survey was conducted among scientists who specialize in MS research and patient care. Analysis of responses resulted in the following definitions of disease categories, which were introduced in 1996.  Relapsing-Remitting Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience clearly defined flare-ups (also called relapses, attacks, or exacerbations). These are episodes of acute worsening of neurologic function. They are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions) free of disease progression. Frequency: Most common form of MS at time of initial diagnosis. Approximately 85%. Primary-Progressive Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a slow but nearly continuous worsening of their disease from the onset, with no distinct relapses or remissions. However, there are variations in rates of progression over time, occasional plateaus, and temporary minor improvements. Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 10%.  Secondary-Progressive Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease, followed by a steadily worsening disease course with or without occasional flare-ups, minor recoveries (remissions), or plateaus. Frequency: 50% of people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, before introduction of the disease-modifying drugs. Long-term data are not yet available to demonstrate if this is significantly delayed by treatment.  Progressive-Relapsing Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a steadily worsening disease from the onset but also have clear acute flare-ups (attacks or relapses), with or without recovery. In contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, the periods between relapses are characterized by continuing disease progression. Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 5%. back to top This information is from the brochure  Just the Facts: 2003-2004

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