Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system where the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers, disrupting electrical signal transmission between the brain and body.
This demyelination leads to scar tissue (sclerosis) formation along damaged nerve pathways, causing a wide range of neurological symptoms that vary greatly between individuals.
MS typically presents in young adults (20-40 years old), with women affected 2-3 times more frequently than men.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
In a healthy central nervous system, oligodendrocytes produce and maintain the myelin sheath - a fatty insulating layer that wraps around nerve axons, enabling rapid electrical signal transmission (saltatory conduction).
Myelin allows nerve impulses to travel up to 100 times faster than unmyelinated fibers.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the CNS from peripheral immune cells.
Axons remain intact and healthy, with efficient communication between neurons.
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Genetic predisposition - HLA-DRB
Environmental triggers - Epstein-Barr virus infection, low vitamin D, smoking, gut microbiome dysbiosis
Blood-brain barrier disruption - Peripheral autoreactive T-cells (CD
cross the BBB, aided by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)
Inflammatory demyelination - Activated T-cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-
that recruit B-cells and macrophages
Myelin destruction - Macrophages and microglia phagocytose myelin sheaths
Oligodendrocyte death - Direct immune attack and inflammatory cytokines kill oligodendrocytes, impairing remyelination
Axonal degeneration - Secondary axonal loss correlates with permanent disability
Lesion formation - Discrete areas of demyelination (plaques) form in white matter, particularly periventricular regions, brainstem, spinal cord, and cerebellum
Progressive disease - In chronic stages, neurodegeneration predominates with cortical demyelination and brain atrophy
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.