What causes multiple sclerosis? Scientists are unsure, but they have made important discoveries about how this immune system disease works. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a condition with no cure, and the resulting effects of the disease are lifelong. MS can manifest with mild to severe symptoms, and treatment is focused on managing the condition and preserving the patient’s quality of life.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
In the event of multiple sclerosis, the body attacks its own tissues. The condition affects the brain and spinal cord because the body’s immune system breaks down the fatty myelin, a substance that coats the nerves and aids them in transmitting messages to the brain. Without myelin, the transmissions are damaged, and nerve impulses are difficult to control.

Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Those affected with MS may exhibit a range of symptoms, depending on which nerves are affected. Symptoms may also come and go, making diagnosis difficult in the early stages. Symptoms primarily include blurred vision, double vision, painful eye movement, tingling or numbness in the body, tremors, dizziness or fatigue. More advanced stages include lack of coordination, partial vision loss and numbness on one side of the body. Paralysis and epilepsy are often present in severe cases. Symptoms of MS seem to worsen with an increase in body temperature. The prognosis of multiple sclerosis will depend on the individual situation, as some cases of the disease are stronger than others.

Risk Factors For Multiple Sclerosis
There are certain risk factors that make it more likely for someone to develop MS, although the exact connections are unclear. Generally, genetics plays an important part. If a parent or sibling has MS, there’s a 3 percent chance someone will develop the condition. Certain viruses, such as Epstein-Barr, also appear to contribute to a higher rate of MS. White women between the age of 20 and 40 are the most likely to develop the disease. The lowest risk groups are Asians and Native Americans; however, it is possible for anyone in a low-risk group to develop MS.