Multiple Sclerosis Essay -- Diseases, Disorders

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of humankind’s most mysterious diseases. No one knows the exact cause and there is no exact treatment. Still multiple sclerosis has the ability to affect nearly 3 million people worldwide and at least 500,000 people in the United States (Boroch). This disease tends to be more common in individuals of northern European descent and women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men. Of those 3 million people, most of them are between the ages of 20 and 50 years old (Dangond). Even though multiple sclerosis is a mystery disease, scientists are working to determine the exact cause and treatment. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that involves the different areas of the central nervous system, CNS- the brain and spinal cord (Dangond). Within the central nervous system there are cells that are covered with a protective myelin. In people with MS, the myelin sheaths around the cells begin to deteriorate and the nerve fibers, also known as axons, which are normally protected by the myelin, end up being destroyed (Boroch). After a while scar tissue is replaced where the myelin breaks down, hence the name multiple sclerosis or many scars (Boroch).When the nerve fibers are destroyed they begin to lose their ability to conduct signals and communicate with the other neighboring nerve cells. Without this ability, the nerve cells that make up the central nervous system cannot communicate with the rest of the body (Blackstone). The loss or slow down of these signals impairs such functions like vision, strength, and coordination. Scientists don’t clearly know what causes the damage to the nerve cells, but they believe that it might be caused by confusion in an individua... ... (Stauffer). The good news is that technology has thrived over the years and scientists are trying to determine new treatments every day. It won’t be long till there is a known cause and a successful treatment. It is important that people who are affected with multiple sclerosis don’t give up because a cure will come. Works Cited Blackstone, Margaret. The First Year--multiple Sclerosis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. 2nd ed. New York: Marlowe, 2007. Print. Boroch, Ann. Healing Multiple Sclerosis: Diet, Detox & Nutritional Makeover for Total Recovery. Los Angeles: Quintessential Healing,, 2007. Print. Dangond, MD, Fernando. "MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. . Stauffer, Melissa. Understanding Multiple Sclerosis. Jackson: University of Mississippi, 2006. Print.