What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?

 A graduate of St. John's University with a BS in pharmaceutical sciences, Ellen Scharaga has worked for many pharmaceutical businesses over the course of her career. Ellen Scharaga serves as an operational consultant with Alegria Specialty Pharmacy, where she helps the company develop and deliver innovative specialty medications for chronic illnesses like HIV, hepatitis C, and multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that originates in the brain and spinal cord but is caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The immune system in a healthy person fights infection by attacking foreign invaders (bacteria or other harmful cells) before they can cause health complications or illnesses. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks and destroys the protective layer around brain cells (neurons). This protective layer is called the myelin sheath.

The myelin sheath is not a foreign invader - rather, it is an integral element in the nervous system that helps brain cells communicate with each other. Cells that are abnormally deprived of these sheaths lose the ability to relay information across the brain and spinal cord. The consequence of this phenomenon is a reduced level of function in the brain and the areas of the body the brain communicates with.

The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) vary in type and intensity. Often, multiple sclerosis is presented with a combination of two or more symptoms that may include muscle paralysis, chronic fatigue, vision loss, loss of balance and coordination, and sexual dysfunction. In some people, MS results in cognitive decline and bladder problems. At present existing treatments for MS focus on managing the symptoms, since the disease cannot be cured.