Demyelinating diseases damage the myelin sheaths covering nerves, causing neurological problems such as difficulty walking, lack of muscle control, and fatigue. Causes include genetics, infections, and environmental exposure. Treatment options include physical therapy and regular neurological exams.
A demyelinating disease is a disease characterized by damage to the myelin sheaths that cover nerves. Myelin acts as an electrical insulator, ensuring that impulses move rapidly along the length of a nerve, and when a nerve becomes demyelinated, these impulses can slow down or stop. In a sense, a demyelinating disease strips the body’s wires of their insulation, and just as the electrical systems in a house would go haywire if all wires were suddenly exposed, the body experiences a variety of problems as nerves lose their nerves. protective layers of myelin. .
Myelin is found mainly around the axon of a nerve. It forms as the nerve grows, creating a protective insulating layer. Many things can cause damage to myelin, including some autoimmune diseases, Schilder’s disease, Devic’s disease, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, fibromyalgia, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. One of the most famous and common demyelinating diseases is multiple sclerosis (MS). Disease progression and severity can vary considerably.
In the early stages, the patient may not experience as many symptoms. As the nerves are slowly stripped of myelin and lesions known as plaques develop, however, the patient may begin to experience a number of neurological problems, including difficulty walking, lack of muscle control, fatigue, excruciating pain, difficulty urinating, vision and other problems, depending on the patient’s disease and how far it has progressed. Progress can be very gradual, creeping up on a patient rather than happening all at once.
If someone has persistent neurological problems, they should see a neurologist for an evaluation, because neurological symptoms are severe and need to be addressed. A neurologist can perform a series of tests to determine a patient’s level of neurological function and to begin narrowing down possible diagnoses, including demyelinating diseases. Once diagnosed, doctor and patient can explore treatment options, including physical therapy and other techniques that will help patients manage the disease as the disease becomes more severe.
The causes of demyelinating disease are not always clear. Genetics appears to play a role, as do some infections and environmental exposure to certain toxins. There isn’t necessarily anything anyone can do to reduce the risk of developing a demyelinating disease, although people at risk may want to consider regular neurological exams and other measures to catch signs of the disease early. Once diagnosed, it can help to know the cause, because this can alter the treatment approach, but it is more important to focus on managing the disease.
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