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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is MS?
- Who gets MS?
- How many people have MS?
- What are the typical symptoms of MS?
- What causes MS?
- Is MS fatal?
- Does MS always cause paralysis?
- Is MS contagious?
- Can MS be cured?
- What medications and treatment are available for MS?
- Why is MS so difficult to diagnose?
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The progress, severity and specific symptoms of the disease cannot be predicted; symptoms may range from tingling and numbness to paralysis and blindness. MS is a devastating disease because people live with its unpredictable physical and emotional effects for the rest of their lives.
Who gets MS?
Twice as many women as men have MS, with the onset of symptoms occurring most often between the ages of 20 and 40. Studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among Caucasians, especially those of northern European ancestry, but people of African, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune.
How many people have MS?
An estimated 2,500,000 people in the world have the disease MS. The National Health Survey of 2001 indicated that there are approximately 15,000 Australians with MS.
What are the typical symptoms of MS?
Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person and from time to time in the same person. They may include: extreme tiredness (fatigue), impaired vision, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking, short-term memory loss, mood swings and, in severe cases, partial or complete paralysis.
What causes MS?
The overall cause of MS is still unknown. The healthy body's immune system normally defends the body from attack by viruses or bacteria. But in the case of MS, the body's immune system attacks its own myelin, causing disruption to nerve transmission. It is thought that genetic and environmental factors are involved - but the actual trigger to the disease has not yet been discovered.
Symptoms result when inflammation and breakdown occur in myelin, the protective insulation surrounding the nerve fibers of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened "sclerotic" patches of tissue. Such lesions are called "plaques," and appear in "multiple" places within the central nervous system. This can be compared to a loss of insulating material around an electrical wire, which interferes with the transmission of signals.
Is MS fatal?
No. MS is not a fatal disease. People who have MS can be expected to have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. With modern medicine and technology, they can live 90-95% of the normal life span.
Does MS always cause paralysis?
No. The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled. Longitudinal studies have shown 50% of people with MS are independently mobile after 15 years.
Is MS contagious?
No. MS is neither contagious nor directly inherited, although studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease.
Can MS be cured?
Not yet. However, advances in treating and understanding MS are achieved daily and research to find a cure is very encouraging. Many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people lead more productive lives. There are now approved medications that have actually been shown to affect the underlying disease course.
What medications and treatment are available for MS?
Since 1996 four medications (Betaferon, Copaxone, Rebif and Avonex) have now been approved and are available under the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, for relapsing forms of MS. They have helped to lessen the frequency and severity of MS attacks, reduce the accumulation of lesions in the brain and has also been shown to slow the progression of disability. In addition to these medications, there is a wide range of therapies available to treat symptoms such as spasticity, pain, fatigue and weakness. People should consult with a knowledgeable General Practitioner (GP) and their neurologist to develop the most comprehensive approach to managing their MS.
Why is MS so difficult to diagnose?
The peculiar nature of MS makes the diagnostic process complex. Elusive symptoms that come and go might indicate any number of possible disorders. Some people have symptoms that are very difficult for GPs to interpret and these people must "wait and see". While no single laboratory test is yet available to prove or rule out MS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has greatly aided in definitive diagnosis.
Adapted from the US National MS Society: Frequently Asked Questions about MS. Reproduced with permission.