Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis is the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system in New Zealand.
It causes disruption to nerves which conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. The resulting interference with messages travelling through the nervous system causes a range of problems for people with MS.
It is a difficult disease to describe because it will impact on people so differently. Some people will be mildly affected, others progress more quickly.
The cause of MS is still unknown. In New Zealand it is estimated there are close to 4,000 people with clinically identified MS. Women are affected three times as often as men.
In spite of research funded by organisations like MS NZ, its cause remains a mystery.