It's also known as MS. In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, known as myelin. This interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage of the nerve fibers.
Many people with MS use a variety of alternative or complementary treatments to help manage their symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle pain. Exercise, meditation, yoga, massage, eating a healthier diet, acupuncture and relaxation techniques may help boost overall mental and physical well-being.
Although there is no cure for MS, there are therapies that help reduce the risk of relapses and slow the disease’s progression. Treatment depends on the type of MS.
Multiple sclerosis, also called MS, is a disease in which the immune system attacks the covering surrounding the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the myelin sheath.
Mayo Clinic's MS care teams evaluate thousands of people with MS each year. With a concentration on MS and vast experience, Mayo Clinic specialists are able to make accurate diagnoses and recommend effective treatments from the start.
Researchers are exploring whether destroying the immune system and then replacing it with transplanted stem cells can “reset” the immune system of someone with MS.
MS is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the protective sheath called myelin that covers and protects the central nervous system’s nerve fibers.
We don't know what causes MS, but there are certain factors that may increase the risk or trigger its onset. So while MS can occur at any age, it mostly makes its first appearance in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Women are often diagnosed with MS during their childbearing years. These healthcare professionals help women who have MS make decisions around family planning, reproductive health, pregnancy and postnatal care.
Studies of the development of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have focused mostly on brain parenchymal changes. Mayo Clinic physician-scientists are investigating the role of what they call "critical" demyelinating spinal cord lesions.
