- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Usher Syndrome
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aplastic Anemia
- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Multiple Sclerosis
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include:
- Visual disturbances
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble with coordination and balance
- Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or “pins and needles”
- Thinking and memory problems
No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak, or walk.
There is no specific test for MS. Doctors use a medical history, physical exam, neurological exam, MRI, and other tests to diagnose it. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Related Issues
- “But You Look So Good!”: Managing Specific Issues National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- At Home with MS: Adapting Your Environment National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Dental Health: The Basic Facts National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Depression and Multiple Sclerosis National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Emotional Disorders in People with Multiple Sclerosis American Academy of Neurology
- Gait or Walking Problems National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Guide for Caregivers National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Hepatitis B Vaccine and Multiple Sclerosis FAQs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- MS in Your Relationships National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the Black Community National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Multiple Sclerosis: Can It Cause Seizures? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Myoclonus National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Neuromyelitis Optica National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Preventive Care Recommendations for Adults with MS National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Spasticity National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Encyclopedia
- BAER – brainstem auditory evoked response Medical Encyclopedia
- CSF cell count Medical Encyclopedia
- CSF myelin basic protein Medical Encyclopedia
- Head MRI Medical Encyclopedia
- Optic neuritis Medical Encyclopedia
- Palatal myoclonus Medical Encyclopedia
- Swallowing problems Medical Encyclopedia
Patient Handouts
- Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection Medical Encyclopedia
- CSF oligoclonal banding Medical Encyclopedia
- Daily bowel care program Medical Encyclopedia
- Multiple sclerosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Multiple sclerosis – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis National Library of Medicine
- CSF Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Index National Library of Medicine
- CSF oligoclonal banding – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- How Is Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosed? National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Treatments and Therapies
- Clear Thinking about Alternative Therapies National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Multiple Sclerosis American Academy of Neurology
- Thunder God Vine National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs in MS: An Introduction National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Multiple Sclerosis National Institutes of Health
NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
- CNN’s John King Isn’t Letting Multiple Sclerosis Slow Him Down
- Multiple Sclerosis: One Day at a Time: Living with an Unpredictable Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know
- Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know
- Uncovering the Mysteries of Multiple Sclerosis: Medical Imaging Helps NIH Researchers Understand the Tricky Disease
Living With
- Comprehensive Care National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Diet and Nutrition National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Dressing with Ease, Style, and Comfort ALS Association
- Exercise National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Living with Advanced MS: Advanced Care Needs National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Managing Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment Can Delay Future Attacks National Institutes of Health
- Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Rehabilitation in Managing MS National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Staying Mobile National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Staying Well National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Work and Home National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Start Here
- Multiple Sclerosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Multiple Sclerosis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Children
- Multiple Sclerosis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Pediatric MS National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Genetics
- Multiple sclerosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Find an Expert
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Women
- Pregnancy and Reproductive Issues National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Specifics
- Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS) National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS) National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Schilder’s Disease National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS) National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Journal Articles
Statistics and Research
- Research News National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Shaking Out Clues to Autoimmune Disease National Institutes of Health
- Technique Selectively Represses Immune System National Institutes of Health
- Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Is There Any Connection? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Vitamin D Levels Predict Multiple Sclerosis Progression National Institutes of Health