Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness and paralysis due to the degeneration of myelin, which acts as an insulator around nerves. The cause is unknown, but drugs and physical activity can help manage symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. Symptoms such as the inability to move muscles properly and even complete paralysis arise due to the degeneration of a substance called myelin which covers a large part of the nerves in the body. In healthy people, myelin acts as an insulator around the nerves, helping the electrical impulses that pass through the nerves to move efficiently. When myelin breaks down, these impulses slow down or stop altogether, and areas of the body that nerves normally send signals don’t receive the appropriate messages, causing MS symptoms.
In a healthy person, the brain receives signals from the rest of the body from sensations and also sends signals to other parts of the body to stimulate movement. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the arrangement of nerves around the body and the central nervous system (CNS) is the collection of nerves within the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is a white, fatty substance that coats the nerves of the CNS.
Cells in the brain and spinal cord pick up sensations and instruct the rest of the body to move the muscles. Each nerve transmits a signal through a system of electrical impulses and chemical signals. Myelin protects the outside of the nerve cell and keeps electrical impulses inside the cells so they don’t scatter their energy outside the cells, but rather keep all the electricity in the right place and direction. The link between myelin and multiple sclerosis occurs in MS patients because the myelin in the CNS that helps nerves transmit signals efficiently is damaged.
When myelin is damaged or broken down entirely, the underlying nerve cell cannot hold its electrical signals properly. Signals slow down dramatically, or may even be lost altogether. Nerve cells that are supposed to transmit sensation messages to the brain can then produce abnormal sensations that feel like pin pricks or numbness.
Nerve cells that normally send signals to muscles and produce near-instantaneous movement may be able to stimulate only little or no movement at all. This can manifest itself in symptoms such as paralysis, double vision or muscle weakness. Doctors still don’t know, as of 2011, what causes the damage to the development of myelin and multiple sclerosis, although particular genetics and triggers such as viruses are suspected. One explanation for myelin damage is that the condition is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system is attacking myelin for an unknown reason.
Despite the lack of information about the cause of the problems with myelin and multiple sclerosis, some drugs can have positive effects on the symptoms of the disease, although MS is not yet curable. These medicines include steroids, interferons and antibodies. Artificial myelin protein is another option. Physical activity can also potentially improve the rate of myelin degeneration and multiple sclerosis.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
