About MS

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in which the insulating, protective covering (myelin sheath) surrounding the nerves is destroyed. This destruction results in an interference with the ways the brain signals various parts of the body. Hard or firm scar tissue replaces the areas where the myelin is lost, hence the name multiple sclerosis (multiple scars). MS can range from relatively benign, to somewhat disabling, to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.

Who Contracts MS?

MS often strikes young adults between 20 and 50 years of age. Twice as many women develop the disease. MS is found most frequently among people who live in temperate climates, both in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In general, MS is more common in Caucasians than in Asians or African Americans.

What Causes MS?

Most scientists think the cause of MS is "multi-factorial." The person's genetic heritage, gender, birthplace, age, and environment contribute to susceptibility, resistance, and the pattern of course MS will take. It is not an inherited disease, in a strict sense, but certain susceptibility may run in families. One theory suggests that a common viral infection acquired during early childhood in genetically susceptible individuals, results in the release of normal brain tissues which leads to the development of an immune response (autoimmune reaction) when one reaches adulthood. MS may result from an autoimmune process in which immune cells mistake myelin as a foreign invader and attack it. One of the most exciting advances in recent years has been the identification of specific myelin proteins that are under attack in MS. No one knows what triggers this process, which eventually damages not only myelin but also underlying nerve tissue. Because MS is twice as common in women as men, scientists have suggested that hormonal factors may predispose women to the disease. This theory, like many others, hasn't been confirmed. However, researchers have found that symptoms of MS in pregnant women were reduced during the second and third trimesters, a time when a woman's body contains heightened levels of female hormones.

Is There A Cure For MS?

Although no cure exists at present for MS, many symptoms can be relieved and the severity of attacks may be reduced through special treatments. The Montel Williams MS Foundation funds the world's top research institutions working toward treatments and a cure for MS.

For more information please log on to www.montelms.org.