Multiple Sclerosis Overview and It's Relative Distribution in Canada

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is "a chronic, immune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system," with incidence most common in young adults-approximately 90% of those diagnosed are aged 16 to 60-although MS can appear at any age (Smith & Shapiro 7). Women are more often affected than men ("Definition"). The central nervous system problems that MS causes can result in issues with muscle control, balance, strength, and vision, as well as seemingly non-physiological functions such as feeling and thinking (Erstad). This paper will discuss MS and describe its relative distribution in Canada.

MS destroys myelin, the protective covering of the nerve cells necessary for the brain and spinal cord to communicate with the nerves in the rest of the body (Poore & Rhodes). As MS progresses, it gradually destroys myelin throughout the brain and spinal cord, leaving demyelinated patches called "lesions" that cause muscle weakness and the other symptoms of MS (Poore & Rhodes). The disease can eventually case deterioration of the nerves themselves, a process that is irreversible ("Definition"). The symptoms of MS vary widely depending upon which nerves are affected and how much damage has been done, but people with the most severe cases of MS may lose their ability to walk or speak ("Definition").

The diagnosis of MS is difficult to make due to the fact that in the early stages, the symptoms com

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too much exercise worsens their symptoms until they cool down (Erstad). Diagnosis of MS was improved in 2001 with the advent of the McDonald Criteria developed by Dr. W. Ian McDonald, chairman of the International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (Polman, Reingold, & Edan, et al. 840). The criteria specified that the patient must have at least three of the following types of lesions: . At least one gadolinium-enhancing lesion, or nine T2 hyperintense lesions if there is no gadolinium-enchancing lesion . At least one infratentorial lesion . At least one juxtacortical lesion . At least three periventricular lesions (Polman, Reingold, & Edan, et al. 840). In these criteria, one spinal cord lesion could be substituted for one brain lesion (Polman, Reingold, & Edan, et al. 840). In 2005, the McDonald Criteria were revised to consider a spinal cord lesion the same as a brain infratentorial esion and an enhancing spinal cord lesion the same as an enhancing brain lesion (Polman, Reingold, & Edan, et al. 840). Moreover, individual spinal cord lesions "can contribute together with individual brain lesions to reach the required num

Category: Science - M