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

• Multiple Sclerosis

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