Neurologists talked about the causes of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases affecting the brain and spinal cord. According to experts, about 2.9 million people worldwide live with it. This was reported on November 10 in the journal Medical Xpress.

According to the expert, in MS, the body's immune cells mistakenly attack their own tissues, damaging myelin, the lining of nerve cells responsible for transmitting electrical signals. This leads to impaired coordination, loss of sensitivity, and other neurological symptoms.

Dr. Aaron Bauer, associate professor of Neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, noted that the disease manifests itself in different ways: most patients have a relapsing-remitting form - alternating exacerbations and periods of remission. Primary progressive and secondary progressive types are less common, in which the condition gradually worsens without pronounced "outbreaks".

Among the first symptoms, doctors include pain and blurred vision, dizziness, weakness in the extremities, numbness, impaired speech and balance. In some cases, patients experience an "electric shock" when they tilt their heads or feel compression in the chest area.

The causes of MS have not been fully established. According to Bauer, the disease develops due to a combination of genetic and external factors. The latter include low vitamin D levels, ultraviolet deficiency, childhood overweight, and smoking. The diagnosis includes a blood test, an MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord with contrast, as well as a lumbar puncture. The doctor may refer the patient to an ophthalmologist to assess the condition of the optic nerve using optical coherence tomography (OCT) or evoked potentials (VEP).

Treatment of multiple sclerosis is aimed at relieving inflammation and preventing new exacerbations. During the active process, corticosteroids are used, most often intravenously for several days.

Modern treatment methods, according to the expert, have significantly improved the prognosis for patients. Although some people continue to experience fatigue, memory impairments, muscle spasticity, and mood disorders, most people with MS can lead a fulfilling life with the support of a team of doctors ranging from neurologists and physical therapists to sleep and mental health specialists.

On October 20, the journal Medical Xpress reported that scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, found out that multiple sclerosis begins to destroy the brain long before the first symptoms appear. The study showed that even a few years before the diagnosis, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, the protective "insulation" of nerve fibers.

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