Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, including the brain, the optic nerve, and the spinal cord. It is characterized by many areas of inflammation and scarring of the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal cord. These are wrappings, composed of a fatty substance, that insulate the nerve fibers throughout the body. Sclerosis means hardening of tissue; multiple simply indicates many regions of tissue hardening. It seems that the body's immune system malfunctions and produces antibodies that attack the myelin sheaths. Consequently, the sheaths are damaged, and the damaged areas develop scarring that leads to either distorted communication or lack of communication between the nerve endings. This may produce a multiplicity of symptoms, from slurred speech to vision problems to loss of mobility. The underlying cause of MS is not known, but it is widely belived to be an autoimmune disease in which white blood cells attack the myelin sheaths as if they were a foreign substance. Stress and malnutrition, whether from poor absorption or poor diet, often precede the onset of the disease. Some experts suspect that an as-yet-unidentified virus may be involved. Heredity may also be a factor. Another theory is that this condition may be caused by food intolerances or allergies, especially allergies to dairy products and gluten.