Multiple sclerosis is considered a demyelinating disease in that the myelin in the central nervous system is disseminated. Myelin, the insulator of nerves is attacked by the immune system because of improper recognition of self as intruder. The demyelinization may slow the nerve impulses, causing loss of muscle power or distortion of sensation, or may block them altogether.
Multiple sclerosis is caused by an interplay genetic and environmental factors. This incidence in the general population is about one in 800 but it is one in 50 for children of an affected parent, one in 20 for siblings of an affected person, and one in three for identical twins of multiple sclerosis patients.
Women are disproportionately affected outnumbering men nearly 2 to 1. The disease typically begins from age 20 to 50. However, individuals with disease onset after age 50 are not rare.
Early symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be mild and vague, and hence may be dismissed by affected individuals or their families. Such symptoms include blurred vision, tingling or numbness in the trunk or extremities, vertigo, intention tremor and clumsiness.
Multiple sclerosis
