What is MS?
MS is a disease of the CNS in which communication between the brain and other parts of the body are disrupted
-myelin --> the fatty substance, rich in lipids, that surrounds/insulates nerve fiber; promotes efficient transmission of a nerve impulse along t
Prevalence
More prevalent in higher northern and southern latitudes
- a child who relocates from an area of low risk to an area of high risk (or the other way around) takes on the risk level of the new location; however, the child retains the risk level of the origi
Causes of MS
-unknown, but infections agents are suggested triggers
-genetic factors (MS is not hereditary, however, having a first-degree relative with MS increases your chances of developing it)
-Environmental factors - vitamin D; smoking;
Pathology
-Impact on myelin sheath --> myelin sheath is damaged, causing impulses to slow or even stop
-immune system ATTACKS MYELIN, causing inflammation and injury to the sheath
---this inflammation may result in scarring (sclerosis)
Symptoms of MS
-dependent on area of damage
-Motor symptoms:
---paresis, plegia, spasticity, dysarthria, atrophy, spasms, restless leg syndrome, myoclonus, dysfunctional reflexes
-Sensory symptoms:
---paresthesia (abnormal sensation), anaesthesia, neurogenic pain, trige
Types of MS
-Relapsing-Remitting (RRMS)
-Progressive-Relapsing (PRMS)
-Secondary-Progressive (SPMS)
-Primary-Progressive (PPMS)
Relapsing-Remitting MS
-Most common disease course
-characterized by attacks of worsening neurological function (relapse)
-relapses followed by periods where symptoms recover partially or completely
-there is no apparent progression of the disease
-about 85% of people initially
Progressive Relapsing MS
-Least common of the 4 types of MS disease course (less than 5%)
-characterized by STEADY progressing course right from the beginning
-some exacerbations (period of worsening symptoms) along the way
-no remission as the disease continues to progress
-reco
Secondary-Progressive MS
-Followed after Relapsing-Remitting course
-the majority of people diagnosed with RRMS eventually transition into SPMS; this means that the neurological impacts will begin to progress mores steadily, but not necessarily more quickly
-there may or may not
Primary Progressive
-Characterized by steady worsening neurological functioning from the beginning
-rate of progression may vary over time with occasional plateaus and minor but temporary improvements
-no relapses or remission
-about 10% of people with MS are diagnosed with
Prognosis
No cure yet, but treatment options available
-goals: modify disease progression and # if relapses; manage symptoms; treat relapse on short-term, as needed basis
-focus on energy conservation
-prognosis: UNPREDICTABLE (hallmark of MS)
---prognosis varies b
Remission
decrease or lessening in severity of symptoms or "return" to the level of health quality prior to the attack - return to similar-equal previous health quality