Multiple Sclerosis is a serious disease of the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. These organs are responsible for the movements and function of the body. MS is thought to be an autoimmune illness, where the body mistakes the brain and spinal cord as foreign tissue and tries to get rid of it, resulting in inflammatory damage. The precise location this disease attacks has not yet been identified, but it appears to be a constituent of myelin that surrounds the nerves. Myelin is a soft, white, fatty substance that forms a protective sheath for the nerves. In multiple sclerosis the normal coating of myelin breaks down and can slow down or even block the transmission of signals to and from the central nervous system to the rest of the body. MS can impair vital functions such as vision, coordination or strength.
There are approximately 300,000 Americans diagnosed with MS. Most diagnosed will experience relapses in which the number of symptoms is increased. The main patterns which MS takes are: relapsing/remitting; chronic progressive; secondary progressive; and benign.
There are three different types of multiple sclerosis. The first and mildest is “re
A drug that is in the process of being FDA approved is called Copolymer 1 (or Copaxone) is also beneficial to people with R/R disease. This drug also reduces flares and slows the progression of disability.
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