Multiple sclerosis and research

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which T-cells of the immune system attack the myelin sheath (cells that surround the axon of neurons) of the sufferer’s central nervous system. In this case the body cannot recognise what is self and foreign so it destroys host cells. Legions appear in the brain and can be seen from an MRI scan. Sclerosis refers to scarring, usually in the white matter of the brain and the spinal cord, which interrupts the communication of these nerve cells and thus prevent or slow many instructions for movement, sight and memory (as well as many others listed in a link below). The cause for all this is however completely unknown, all that is known is that there is a slight genetic factor involved. By this I mean that those diagnosed with MS usually have a relative somewhere in their family who also has MS, for example my father was diagnosed in 2001 and found that his cousin's daughter also has MS, which means I have a slight higher risk of MS than those without the family link. But, and there’s always a but, there are many cases of MS that seem to have no genetic link and so by no stretch is there a causal link. This is all very confusing but what it points towards are alternative factors such as environment, age, geography etc. It is likely that genes define who is most susceptible to developing the disease, but environmental factors are what define who actually develops the disease.

 So, a virus or bacterial infection may be the trigger. Back to my father again, at the age of 10 he had glandular fever (Epstein Barr virus) many of his friends suffering from MS had the same at an early age, yet somewhat frustratingly not all MS patients have had this.

 It is also thought that a lack of vitamin D can increase risk, and research into that theory will be looked at during the course of this year.

A lot of disagreement has came about from Dr Paolo Zamboni’s claims that up to 90% of MS is caused by narrowed veins and blockages that obstruct the flow of blood from the brain back to the heart, as the theory has been undermined by a few other scientists claiming that the blood flow is normal in MS patients.

There are many theories such as Zamboni’s that remain very much unclear and one could potentially hold the answers we’re looking for. 

If you’re interested in other research into the cause of MS please visit this website: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-news-and-research/ms-research/research-projects/cause#CD86

And if you’re wanting to looking into symptoms: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/signs-and-symptoms?gclid=CKSa7LnP-K4CFdISfAoddRy61A

Other resorces:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16086004

http://www.chg.duke.edu/diseases/ms.html

http://www.multiplesclerosisinformation.co.uk/#/about-ms/4534155497

http://www.klearview.co.uk/MS.html

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/blog/

http://www.knowswhy.com/why-is-multiple-sclerosis-an-autoimmune-disease/

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/02/science/la-sci-ms-treatment-20100803
Author: Grace Ronnie