What is Multiple Sclerosis?
What is MS?Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is one of the most common central nervous system diseases among young adults in New Zealand.
MS interferes with the brain's ability to control such functions as seeing, walking and talking.
It's called Multiple, because many scattered areas of the brain and spinal cord are affected.
It's called Sclerosis, because the disease involves "sclerosed" or scarred tissue in damaged areas of the brain and spinal cord.
The central nervous system acts like a switchboard, sending electrical messages along the nerves to various parts of the body. These messages control all our conscious and unconscious movements.
Most healthy nerve fibres are covered by a fatty substance called myelin, which protects the nerves and aids the flow of messages.
In MS, the myelin breaks down and is replaced by sclera (scar tissue). This distorts or even blocks the flow of messages.
Body functions become uncontrolled because messages don't get through correctly.
Multiple Sclerosis is:
- NOT a mental illness
- NOT contagious
- NOT preventable or curable (YET!)