This powerpoint presentation summarizes key information about multiple sclerosis (MS), including what it is, common symptoms, potential causes, how it affects the nervous system, current treatments, history of the disease, who is most likely to be affected, and life expectancy. MS is an unpredictable neurological disorder that disrupts communication between the brain and body, and can cause fatigue, mobility issues, vision problems, and other symptoms. While there is no known cause, genetics and environmental factors likely play a role. It primarily affects adults aged 20-50 and is more common in those of northern European descent. Treatments aim to modify symptoms and slow progression, but there is currently no cure.

1. THIS POWERPOINT WILL ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS:
• WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?
• THE SYMPTOMS
• WHAT MIGHT CAUSE IT?
• SPECIFIC STRUCTURES AND
FUNCTIONS
• CURRENT TREATMENTS
• HISTORY
• WHO GETS EFFECTED?
• LIFE EXPECTANCY
Multiple sclerosis

2. What is Multiple Sclerosis?
 Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, disabling
disease of the central nervous system that disrupts
the flow of information within the brain, and
between the brain and body.

3. Symptoms
 Fatigue
 Walking difficulties
 Numbness
 Weakness
 Spasticity
 Vision problems
 Pain
 Depression
 Emotional changes
These Symptoms are the most common and around 80% of people who are
diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis have shown these symptoms

4. What might cause it?
 The cause of MS is still unknown – most scientists
believe the disease is triggered by an unidentified
environmental factor in a person who is genetically
unprepared to respond.

5. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS
 MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath. This
sheath is the protective covering that surrounds
nerve cells. When this nerve covering is damaged,
nerve signals slow down or stop.
 The nerve damage is caused by inflammation.
Inflammation occurs when the body's own immune
cells attack the nervous system. This can occur along
any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord.

6. Who gets affected?
 MS occurs in most ethnic groups, including African-
Americans, Asians and Hispanics/Latinos, but is more
common in Caucasians of northern European ancestry.
 MS most commonly effects people from 20 to 50 years of
age
 The average person in the United States has about one in
750 (.1%) chance of developing MS

7. Current Treatments
 Currently, people with MS use a lot of medication
depending on what kind of symptoms they have.
 Today multiple sclerosis (MS) is not a curable
disease. Effective strategies can help modify or slow
the disease, treat attacks, manage symptoms,
improve function and safety, and address emotional
health.

8. History
 The history of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a detective
story spanning more than a century.
 Scientifically, MS was among the first diseases to be
described.
 Further knowledge of MS could not advance without
better understanding of biology and better research
tools
 In 1968, Scientist Jean Martin Charcot discovered
this disease when doing on an autopsy.

9. Life Expectancy
 The University of Maryland Medical Center reports
that the majority of MS patients will experience a
normal (or almost normal) life span
 People with MS tend to die from many of the same
conditions that people without MS die from,
including cancer and heart disease.
 Severe MS (Extremely rare) will cause discomfort,
vertigo, overwhelming, and inconvenience. This
leads to more suicide rates.

10. Citation
 http://www.nationalmssociety.org
 http://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-
sclerosis/prognosis-and-life-
expectancy#NotFatal,butNoCure1