Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Multiple Sclerosis
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a lifelong autoimmune disorder that can cause severe disability. An autoimmune disorder is one in which the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissue. People with MS produce antibodies that attack the white matter in the brain and spinal cord.
What is going on in the body?
In multiple sclerosis, the myelin, or coating of nerve fibers, becomes inflamed in the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation damages the myelin, and signals cannot be passed along to the nerve.
About 70% of the individuals with MS have what is called the relapsing-remitting, or RR type, of MS. They have periodic relapses, or episodes where symptoms worsen. These relapses are followed by remissions, which involve partial or full relief from symptoms. The remaining 30% of people with MS have chronic, progressive disease. Although there are several subgroups, most individuals with chronic, progressive disease have a disease course that worsens steadily over time.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
The cause of multiple sclerosis is not known. There are four major scientific theories about the cause of MS:
Some neurologists believe that MS develops because a person is born with a genetic predisposition to react to an environmental agent. When that person comes into contact with the agent, the contact triggers an autoimmune response that causes MS.