Multiple Sclerosis

A slow, progressive autoimmune disease of the central nervous system in which there is selective destruction of the myelin sheath that covers the axons and helps send nerve signals to the muscles.  This causes the involved muscles to atrophy (waste away).  Symptoms usually begin to appear between 20-40 years old.  They may include  double or blurred vision, red and green color distortion, and even partial blindness.  Many patients complain of numbness and prickling sensations (paresthesia), pain, difficulty with speech, tremors, dizziness, bladder or bowel disturbance, and lack of coordination or balance. Severe cases may cause partial or complete paralysis.  It affects mostly white people in Europe, Canada , northern United States , New Zealand , and southern Australia , and more women than men.  There is currently no cure.  Treatment with cortosteroids and other drugs such as beta interferon and polymers aims to slow progression of the disease and enhance quality of life.