Multiple Sclerosis – Part I

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects nearly 1 million adults in the US. It can cause significant disability. Today, we’ll begin a two-part series on MS. Let’s start with a focus on what MS is, who gets it, and what symptoms to watch for.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering (myelin) around nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. When myelin is damaged, nerve signals slow down or become disrupted, leading to a wide range of symptoms. This has been described as similar to damaging the insulation on an electrical wire, which can interfere with how electrical or nerve signals travel.

• Age – MS can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40.
• Sex – Women are affected more often than men but men do get MS.
• Living further from the equator
• Low vitamin D levels – which may be due to lower sun exposure.
• Genetic predisposition – Such as having a close relative with MS
• Smoking – Not only increases the risk of developing MS but is also associated with more severe and faster progressing disease.
• Obesity – especially in adolescence
• Certain infections – Scientists are studying the likely association of MS with a person having had certain infections in the past, including Epstein-Barr virus (causes mononucleosis) and Measles. MS itself is not an infection and is not contagious.

• Vision problems – blurred vision, double vision, or pain with eye movement
• Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
• Muscle weakness or stiffness and difficulty walking
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Mood Changes
• Pain