Being told you have multiple sclerosis or multiple sclerosis can raise many questions, from “Why do I have it?” to “What can I do about it?” However, once the initial shock of being diagnosed wears off, the biggest question most people ask is “What is the definition of multiple sclerosis?” or in simpler terms, what is MS and is there a cure for this disease? Because MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system of the human body, our understanding of what it is is much better than our understanding of how to cure it.

The medical version

According to the medical community and scientific research, the best definition of Multiple Sclerosis is that it is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS) and can cause a wide variety of symptoms at different stages of the disease. These symptoms can be as mild as headaches or mild muscle weakness to being completely immobilized when the muscles can no longer function.

Multiple sclerosis invades the body by causing the body’s own immune system to malfunction and actually attack the myelin sheath that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting it so that the nerves can continue to send the correct signals to the brain. One of the biggest problems in getting a true definition of Multiple Sclerosis is that the degree of severity varies from patient to patient and the time it takes to progress is completely unpredictable.

The scientific version

If you are interested in delving a little deeper into the definition of multiple sclerosis, then we should look at the scientific version, as it will cover the details a bit better. MS causes the loss of the myelin sheath that surrounds both the brain and spinal cord, known as demyelination. In this process myelin is destroyed, this layer is made up of lipids and proteins and is essential for the nervous system since it protects them and allows the proper transfer of signals to and from the brain.

When this layer is damaged, the brain’s layer of gray matter known as the cortex can also be damaged in the process. The effects of this damage are often lesions that can be seen on an MRI or CT scan. These damaged areas of the myelin sheath are the cause of impaired bodily functions, as well as loss of sensation in many ways.

Although the disease is not yet fully understood, researchers know that nerve death caused by MS is an important part of the disease and that there is currently no cure for the disease. However, there are many very successful methods of relieving symptoms and sending them into long-term remission.