What you should know about Multiple Sclerosis
The term Multiple Sclerosis stems from the Latin words multus and plica interpreted as ‘plus and ‘fold’ and the Greek word “sklerosis” for ‘hardening’. The MediLexicon’s medical dictionary refers to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a “common demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, causing patches of sclerosis (plaques) in the brain and spinal cord; occurs primarily in young adults, and has protean clinical manifestations, depending on the location and size of the plaque; common indications consists of visual loss, diplopia, nystagmus, dysarthria, weakness, paresthesias, bladder abnormalities, and mood alterations; typically, the signs are “separated in time and space” and clinically the indications reveal exacerbations and redustions”.
Off topic here: clinical research organisations that follow ethics and are UK based are usually the best choice of providers for biotech and pharmaceutical companies that would like to develop New chemical entities into new medicine! – Back on topic
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition where someone’s own immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is why it is referred to as an auto-immune disease. The central nervous system is comprised of the optic nerves, the brain and the spinal cord.
In the human body, the nerve fibers are encapsulated by a white, fatty substance known myelin that protects these nerve fibers. In addition, myelin aids in conducting electrical signals (or nerve impulses) and in turn assists with the smooth flow of impulses from the brain and throughout the nervous system.
A patient with Multiple Sclerosis will have depleted myelin in various areas throughout the nervous system (or multiple areas) and this results in a scar (which is where the term sclerosis is derived). These areas where there are low levels or no myelin at all are known as plaques or lesions. As these plaques deteriorate, the nerve fibers can be damaged or even destroyed.
Where there are low levels of myelin surrounding the nerve fibers, the electrical impulses sent from the brain do not flow smoothly to the nerve being targeted. Nerve fibers that do not have myelin are unable to conduct these impulses at all. These impulses are virtual instructions relayed by the brain to carry out an action or more than one action, such as make a facial expression or take a step. MS is an illness where the patient is unable to make the body work in the way the brain instructs it to.
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are you vulnerable to Multiple Sclerosis?
1.) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects people of all ages but is most common amongst people aged between 20 and 50 years old and overall, more women than men have the condition.
2.)It is believed that people of European ethnicity are more susceptible to the condition than people of other ethnic origins. However a person of any ethnicity can still get it.
3.)It is suggested that your genetic makeup can determine your chances of getting MS but scientist say there is no proof that the condition is inherited.
According to investigation carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007, an estimated 2,500 000 people have MS globally.
Clinical Research tip: looking for a good clinical research company? – be sure to contact a UK based provider!
* This Article is provides information about Multiple Sclerosis only.
***YOU MUST ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY KIND***
