Multiple Sclerosis
- Multiple Sclerosis Overview
- The Central Nervous System and Multiple Sclerosis Causes
- Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
Multiple Sclerosis Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be thought of as an inflammatory process involving different areas of the central nervous system (CNS) at various points in time. As the name suggests, multiple sclerosis affects many areas of the CNS.
- Multiple sclerosis is more common in individuals of northern European descent.
- Women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men.
- Multiple sclerosis usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 50 years, and the average age of onset is approximately 34 years.
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Viewer Comments & Reviews
Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) FAQs »
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects different parts of the central nervous system at different points in time. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord (see Multimedia file 1). The brain controls bodily activities, such as movements and thoughts. The spinal cord serves as a pathway for messages between the brain and various parts of the body. These messages participate in most bodily actions. Because MS affects different parts of the central nervous system, it can affect the functioning of many parts of the body.
Many researchers consider MS an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. With an autoimmune disease that affects the brain or spinal cord, the body's immune system, its defense system against infection and disease, treats normal central nervous system tissues as if they are foreign and attacks them. When the immune system attacks tissues in the cent...
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Multiple Sclerosis »
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
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