A chronic disease in which the immune system attacks components of the central nervous system, causing areas of inflammation and damage that can interfere with nerve signaling.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Damage to myelin and other nervous-system structures can produce symptoms such as visual disturbances, weakness, numbness, problems with balance, and changes in coordination or cognition.
The course varies considerably between individuals, and different forms and patterns of disease activity exist.
QUICK FACT
Multiple sclerosis is not simply a disease of the muscles; it primarily affects the central nervous system.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Muscular dystrophy: a group of genetic disorders primarily characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration; it is fundamentally different from MS.
SEE ALSO
- Autoimmune Disease
- Immune System
- Inflammation
- Neurological Disease