The Science Behind MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system (CNS). Your CNS includes your brain and spinal cord, which contains special kinds of cells called neurons, designed to send signals throughout your body. These signals are responsible for many functions, including balance, physical coordination, eyesight, and memory. In MS, the body’s own immune system attacks the neurons, causing damage to their protective coating, myelin. The damage means that the signals they send to other parts of the body are disrupted and this causes the symptoms of MS. The reason that symptoms of MS can be so different for each person is because they depend on where in the body the neuronal damage is occurring. Some of the most common MS symptoms include:
