What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long
chronic disease diagnosed primarily in
young adults. During an MS attack,
inflammation occurs in areas of the white
matter of the central nervous system
(nerve fibers that are the site of MS
lesions) in random patches called plaques.
This process is followed by destruction of
myelin, which insulates nerve cell fibers
in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin
facilitates the smooth, high-speed
transmission of electrochemical messages
between the brain, the spinal cord, and
the rest of the body. Symptoms of MS may
be mild or severe and of long duration or
short and appear in various combinations.
The initial symptom of MS is often blurred
or double vision, red-green color
distortion, or even blindness in one eye.
Most MS patients experience muscle
weakness in their extremities and
difficulty with coordination and balance.
Most people with MS also exhibit
paresthesias, transitory abnormal sensory
feeling such as numbness or "pins and
needles." Some may experience pain or loss
of feeling. About half of people with MS
experience cognitive impairments such as
difficulties with concentration,
attention, memory, and judgment. Such
impairments are usually mild, rarely
disabling, and intellectual and language
abilities are generally spared. Heat may
cause temporary worsening of many MS
symptoms. Physicians use a neurological
examination and take a medical history
when they suspect MS. Imaging technologies
such as MRI, which provides an anatomical
picture of lesions, and MRS (magnetic
resonance spectroscopy), which yields
information about the biochemistry of the
brain. Physicians also may study patients'
cerebrospinal fluid and an antibody called
immunoglobulin G. No single test
unequivocally detects MS. A number of
other diseases produce symptoms similar to
those seen in MS.
Is there any treatment?
There is as yet no cure for MS. Until
recently, steroids were the principal
medications for MS. While steroids cannot
affect the course of MS over time, they
can reduce the duration and severity of
attacks in some patients. The FDA has
recently approved new drugs to treat MS.
The goals of therapy are threefold: to
improve recovery from attacks, to prevent
or lessen the number of relapses, and to
halt disease progression.
What is the prognosis?
The cause of MS remains elusive, but most
people with MS have a normal life
expectancy. The vast majority of MS
patients are mildly affected, but in the
worst cases, MS can render a person unable
to write, speak, or walk.
What research is being done?
Scientists are looking into the body's
autoimmune system, infectious agents, and
genetics as culprits in MS. Studies into
these areas strengthen the theory that MS
is the result of a number of factors
rather than a single gene or other agent.
Studies use a technique called magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the
evolution of MS lesions in the white
matter of the brain. Studies have shown
that MS has no adverse effects on the
course of pregnancy, labor, or delivery;
in fact, the stabilization or remission of
symptoms during pregnancy may be
attributable to changes in a woman's
immune system that allows her to carry a
baby.
The National Academies/Institute of
Medicine, a Federal technical and
scientific advisory agency, recently
prepared a strategic review of MS
research. Read or download the National
Academies/Institute of Medicine report,
"Multiple Sclerosis: Current Status and
Strategies for the Future."
Select this link to view a list of studies
currently seeking patients.
Organizations
Clearinghouse on Disability Information
Switzer Bldg., Rm. 3132
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-2524
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS<
/a>
Tel: 202-205-8241
Fax: 202-401-2608
International Multiple Sclerosis Support
Foundation
9420 East Golf Links Road
PMB# 291
Tucson, AZ 85730-1340
jean@msnews.
org
http://www.msnews.org
Fax: 520-579-9473
International Essential Tremor Foundation
P.O. Box 14005
Lenexa, KS 66285-4005
st
aff@essentialtremor.org
http://www.essentialtremor.org
Tel: 913-341-3880 888-387-3667
Fax: 913-341-1296
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
706 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
msaa@msaa.com<
/a>
ht
tp://www.msaa.com
Tel: 856-488-4500 800-532-7667
Fax: 856-661-9797
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
6350 North Andrews Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-2130
support@
msfocus.org
http://www.msfocus.org
Tel: 954-776-6805 888-MSFocus (673-6287)
Fax: 954-351-0630
National Rehabilitation Information Center
(NARIC)
4200 Forbes Boulevard
Suite 202
Lanham, MD 20706-4829
naricinfo@heitechservices.com
h
ttp://www.naric.com
Tel: 301-562-2400 800-346-2742
Fax: 301-562-2401
National Ataxia Foundation (NAF)
2600 Fernbrook Lane
Suite 119
Minneapolis, MN 55447-4752
naf@ataxia.or
g
http://www.ataxia.org
Tel: 763-553-0020
Fax: 763-553-0167
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
733 Third Avenue
6th Floor
New York, NY 10017-3288
nat@nmss.org
http://www.nationalmssociety.or
g
Tel: 212-986-3240 800-344-4867 (FIGHTMS)
Fax: 212-986-7981
American Autoimmune Related Diseases
Association
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe
East Detroit, MI 48201-2227
aarda@aol.com<
/a>
h
ttp://www.aarda.org
Tel: 586-776-3900 800-598-4668
Fax: 586-776-3903
National Organization for Rare Disorders
(NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT 06813-1968
orph
an@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD
(6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291
Well Spouse Foundation
63 West Main Street Suite H
732-577-8644
Freehold, NJ 07728
info@wel
lspouse.org
http://www.wellspouse.org
Tel: 800-838-0879 732-577-8899
Fax: 732-577-8644
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
801 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3517
info@pva.org
htt
p://www.pva.org
Tel: 202-USA-1300 (872-1300) 800-424-8200
Fax: 202-785-4452
Boston Cure Project for MS
13 Belton Street
Arlington, MA 02474
info@bos
toncure.org
http://www.bostoncure.org
Tel: 781-788-0880
Fax: 781-788-8188
Related NINDS Publications and
Information
Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research
An informational booklet on Multiple
Sclerosis from the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS).
Esclerosis Múltiple: Esperanza en la
Investigación
A Spanish-language public information
booklet on multiple sclerosis/Informacion
de la Enfermadad de Esclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis and Chemokines:
Prospects for Therapeutic and Prophylactic
Intervention
Health Disparities Working Group Meeting:
Cognitive and Emotional Health Multiple
Sclerosis and Chemokines: Prospects for
Therapeutic and Prophylactic Intervention
Old Drug, New Use: New Research Shows
Common Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Reduces
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Mice
January 2003 news summary on studies
suggesting that statin drugs may be useful
for multiple sclerosis.
Brain Produces New Cells in Multiple
Sclerosis
February 2002 news summary on brain repair
in multiple sclerosis.
NINDS Notes for June 2000
Lay-language descriptions of new program
announcements and clinical trials seeking
patient volunteers.
