Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the central nervous system. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body attacks itself by mistake. MS is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently. Some people with MS may have only mild symptoms. Others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted. Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. In MS, the myelin is destroyed in many areas. This loss of myelin forms scar tissue called sclerosis. These areas are also called plaques or lesions. When the nerves are damaged in this way, they can’t conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. What causes multiple sclerosis? There are many possible causes of MS, including: • Autoimmune disorders • Infectious agents, such as viruses • Environmental factors • Genetic factors What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis? The symptoms of MS are often unpredictable. They may be mild or severe, short-term or long-lasting. They may appear in different combinations, depending on the area of the nervous system affected. The following are the most common symptoms of MS. But each person may have different symptoms. First symptoms of MS The following are often the first symptoms of MS: • Blurred or double vision • Red-green color distortion • Pain and loss of vision because of swelling of the optic nerve (optic...

The Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting Focuses on Pathways to Stopping MS and Restoring Function and Quality of Life June 15, 2023 Multiple Sclerosis Organizations Commit to a Shared Global Research Strategy to Accelerate Cures for MS June 6, 2023 President Biden Signs Fiscal Responsibility Act June 3, 2023

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While there is no single best diet for multiple sclerosis (MS), consuming or avoiding certain foods may help a person to manage their symptoms. Certain lifestyle changes may also be beneficial for managing MS. When a person develops In Treatment for MS focuses on managing a person’s symptoms and helping them live with the condition. A well-balanced diet Understanding the role of the diet in MS and making certain changes may result in fewer relapses, a lower risk of health complications, and a better quality of life. Anyone following a specific diet needs to consume all the required daily nutrients. Before making large dietary changes, people should speak with a registered dietitian to ensure they can replace any lost nutrients. Gluten-free diet A However, people with MS Gluten is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. Therefore, people avoiding gluten should avoid foods containing these grains. Foods that contain gluten • wheat products, such as bread and baked goods • many premade soups and salad dressings • • rye, which is often present in bread and cereals People who follow a Anyone considering a gluten-free diet should consult a doctor first. Paleo diet Many individuals The diet involves switching to foods that hunter-gatherers likely ate. The first step is to choose natural foods over processed foods, emphasizing meat and plant-based foods but not grains. In a small Wahls diet The Wahls diet, or the Wahls protocol, is a modified version of the paleo diet. Dr. Te...

Multiple sclerosis , or MS, happens when your immune system attacks myelin , the sheath around your nerve cells. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged and cause communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. MS is a chronic, or long-lasting, disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves in your eyes. It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions. The effects are often different for everyone who has the disease. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks. MS Symptoms The damage means your brain can’t send signals through your body correctly. Your nerves also don’t work as they should to help you move and feel. As a result, you may have symptoms like: • Trouble walking • Feeling tired • Muscle weakness or spasms • Blurred or double vision • Numbness and tingling • Sexual problems • Poor bladder or bowel control • Pain • Depression • Problems focusing or remembering At What Age Does MS Usually Start? The first symptoms often start between ages 20 and 40. Most people with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other people, the disease continues to get worse over time. In recent years, scientists have found many new treatments that can often help prevent relapses and slow the disease’s...

Overview Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibers. Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely between patients and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nevous system. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or ambulate at all. Other individuals may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms depending on the type of MS they have. There's no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms. Symptoms Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Common symptoms include: • Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time • Tingling • Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte sign) • Lack of coordination • Unsteady gait or inability to walk • Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye move...

No two people have exactly the same symptoms. You may have a single symptom, and then go months or years without any others. A problem can also happen just one time, go away, and never return. For some people, the symptoms get worse within weeks or months. Keep track of what’s happening to you. It’ll help your doctor monitor your disease and help them understand how well your treatment works. What Does MS Feels Like? A lack of feeling or a pins-and-needles sensation can be the first sign of nerve damage from MS. It usually happens in your face, arms, or legs, and on one side of your body. It tends to go away on its own. Numbness and tingling can also come from a lack of blood flow or a pinched nerve, so think first if you slept in a funny position or sat without moving for a long time. Other conditions can also lead to nerve damage: Carpal tunnel syndrome affects your wrist, while diabetic neuropathy can trigger numbness, tingling, or pain in your feet or hands. Sudden numbness on one side of your body may signal a stroke. If that happens to you, call 911 ASAP. Learn more about causes of numbness and tingling in your limbs . Early Signs of MS For many people, the first brush with what’s later diagnosed as MS is what doctors call clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). This episode of neurological symptoms usually lasts 24 hours. It happens when your immune system mistakenly tells your body to attack myelin, the protective sheath over nerve cells in your brain and spine. You ma...

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• d • d • • • d • • • • • d • • • • d • d • • • • • • d • • • • • d • d • d • d • d • • • d • d • • • • • d • d • d • • • • d • d • • • • • • d • • d • • d • • • • • • d • d • d • d • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • d • • • • • • • • d • • • • d • d • d • • d • d • • • • • • • • • • • d • • d • • d • d • • • • • d • • • • • d • • • • • • d • • • • • • d • d • • • • • • • d • • • d • • • • • • • d • d • d • • • d • • • • • • d • d • • d • • • • • d • • • • • d • d • • • • • • • • • • d • d • • • d • d • • • • d • d • • d • d • • • d • d • • • • d • • d • d • d • d • d • d • d • d • d • • • • • • • d • • • • • • • • • d • • • • d • d • d • d • • • • d MS symptoms are variable and unpredictable. No two people have exactly the same symptoms, and each person’s symptoms can change or fluctuate over time. One person might experience only one or two of the possible symptoms while another person experiences many more. Explore the list below to find more information about the symptoms you or someone you care about may experience. Most of these symptoms can be managed very effectively with medication, rehabilitation and other management strategies. Effective symptom management by an More common symptoms • Occurs in about 80% of people, can significantly interfere with the ability to function at home and work, and may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations. • Often a first symptom of MS or a relapse, an MS hug is a squeezing sensatio...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the central nervous system. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body attacks itself by mistake. MS is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently. Some people with MS may have only mild symptoms. Others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted. Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. In MS, the myelin is destroyed in many areas. This loss of myelin forms scar tissue called sclerosis. These areas are also called plaques or lesions. When the nerves are damaged in this way, they can’t conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. What causes multiple sclerosis? There are many possible causes of MS, including: • Autoimmune disorders • Infectious agents, such as viruses • Environmental factors • Genetic factors What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis? The symptoms of MS are often unpredictable. They may be mild or severe, short-term or long-lasting. They may appear in different combinations, depending on the area of the nervous system affected. The following are the most common symptoms of MS. But each person may have different symptoms. First symptoms of MS The following are often the first symptoms of MS: • Blurred or double vision • Red-green color distortion • Pain and loss of vision because of swelling of the optic nerve (optic...