FAQs
What is MS?
Multiple scerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system which is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
The name explains the disease - sclerosis is the greek word meaning 'hardened tissue or scars' and multiple means 'many'. In our bodies, the nerve fibres are protected by a sheath of myelin, a fatty substance which is a protective covering wrapped around the nerves of the central nervous system. MS causes the immune system to attack the myelin sheath, causing scars that can affect the quality of the nerve messages from the brain to parts of the body.
How is MS Diagnosed?
There is no one definitive test to diagnose MS. You may have waited for some time to receive a diagnosis, as there are several critieria upon which a diagnosis of MS is made. There must be evidence of at least two attacks (episodes of demyelination) that are seperate in time and location in the central nervous system. Symptoms are observed over a peroiod of time - a comprehensive neurological examination that assesses visual fields, movements and sensation is undertaken, ruling out other explanations for the symptoms needs to occur.
Other tests performed to make a diagnosis of MS include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which creates detailed pictures of the brain and spinal cord, revealing areas of inflammation and scarring. A lumbar puncture allows the collection of cerebrospinal fluid which may show specific changes in proteins and white blood cells that are characteristic of MS.
What causes MS?
While the exact cause of MS is not known, current research increasingly points to a complex interplay of environmental and possibly genetic risk factors. Together these two factors may influence a risk for developing MS given a prescribed set of conditions which are yet to be discovered. MS is NOT contagious, and is NOT a directly inherited disease, however it does occur a little more frequently in people who have a family member with MS.
Is multiple sclerosis fatal?
MS is not fatal...people who have MS can expect to live a normal or near normal life span, thanks to improvements in the treatment of symptoms and in other therapies for people with MS.
Is there hope for a cure?
Absolutely. Researchers are learning more about what causes MS everyday and zeroing in on ways to prevent it
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