World MS Day takes place every year on the 30 May. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibres and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves. Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely, depending on the amount of nerve damage, and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or become totally dependent, while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease, slow progression and manage symptoms. MS was thought to be a white man’s disease in our part of the world but in recent times, the number of cases seem to be on the rise.
Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. MS is two to three times more common in women than in men. There is no drug that can cure MS, but treatments are available which can modify the course of the disease.