Understanding Multiple Sclerosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of the Nervous System Disease

Running head: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 1
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Mada Al-Nefaiee
Neurophysiology; Psychopharmacology - CPY-5205-01
Margarita Abramov, PhD., R.N.
February 25, 2019

Multiple Sclerosis 2
Abstract
The term "many scars" refers to the slit, which is generated during the period of brain and
spinal cord disease in Multiple sclerosis (MS) (Joy & Johnston, 2001). Spinal Cord and brain is
affected in the disease of nervous system Multiple sclerosis. The disease damages the materials,
which protects and surrounds nerve cells. The material is known as myelin sheath. The messages
form an individual’s brain to the body is blocked in the course of this damage ("Multiple
Sclerosis | MS | MedlinePlus," 2019). As per Morales, Parisi, and Lucchinetti (2006), the
demolition of myelin sheaths, which surrounds the axons or nerve fiber of the neurons, marks the
primary injury from the disease Multiple sclerosis. MS also damages the axons along with the
myelin sheaths. One in every 2,000 to 2,400 people are affected by this disease in the areas of
western and northern Europe, southern Australia, Russia and northern regions of United States.
In the regions around the equator, the prevalence of this disease is less. The data of the MS
affected people in the regions of Asia, parts of South America and in sub-Saharan Africa
portrays the lower rate of damages, which is about one in 20,000. Due to unspecified reasons,
women gets affected twice as frequent as compared to men from the various forms of multiple
sclerosis (NIH, 2019).
Key words: MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, Multiple sclerosis, CNS= central nervous
system, CSF = cerebrospinal fluid,

Multiple Sclerosis 3
One of the most common diseases in regards with the nervous system, which is found in
people of almost all ages in various regions in the world, is Multiple sclerosis. However, the
number of women, people residing in climates of northeast as the young people, affected by
Multiple sclerosis is very disproportionate (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2019). MS is not
directly inherited in spite of the fact that it displays few genetic tendencies. The symptoms in
regards with neurological disorders generated from MS includes paralysis, difficulty walking,
numbness and loss of vision (Multiple sclerosis-Genetics Home Reference- NIH). The
complexity in understanding the pattern of the symptoms can make the diagnosis of this disease
difficult. The loss in nerves of the brain stem in significant amount are responsible for causing
neurological symptoms (NMSS, 2019). Myelin sheath and few of the nerve fibers are damaged
by Multiple sclerosis. Myelin sheath, a complex chemical is very crucial for the performance of
nerves in regards with electricity impulses and it is responsible in surrounding and segregating
the neurons. The damage of the myelin sheath affects the communication in between the nerves
by leaving the nerves exposed. The cure has not been found for the disease Multiple sclerosis.
The treatment associated with the disease aims at speeding up the recovery of the attack by
slowing down the progression of the disease as well as managing the MS symptoms.
Corticosteroids such as intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone includes in the
prescription for minimizing nerve inflammation. The people with mild symptoms does not
require treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis 4
Etiology of multiple sclerosis
MS is affected by multiple gene factors and various biological factors, similar to any
other medical diseases. Causes of the disease are still in the process of research by the doctors
and scientists. Moreover, the three factors of MS, which can be responsible for its occurrence,
are genetics regarding the causes of MS, Immunology (the study of the immune system in the
body) and epidemiology (the study of disease patterns in large groups of people) ("What Causes
MS?” 2019).
Immunologic Factor
The unusual immune-mediated response is responsible for causing the coating of myelin
over the axons in CNS (Central Nervous System). In this disease, the nerve fibers and the myelin
producing cells are damaged. The researchers in the recent years have discovered immune cells,
which targets Central Nervous System of an individual, the factors responsible for the
abnormality as well as the process of response of the immune system (NMMSS, What Causes
MS?, 2019).
Environmental factors
Although, the causes of MS have not been researched but the environmental factors have
reflected impact on the risk development of this disease. The risk of MS is developed by various
factors, for instance geographical location. The frequency of the disease MS is found more in the
areas, which are far from equator. The epidemiologists who studies patterns in illness with a
large group of sample analyses the disparities in demographics (ethnic background, gender and