Multiple Sclerosis

What is multiple sclerosis

Autoimmune disease where immune system attack oligodendrocytes in the CNS, has sensory, motor, speech and cognitive impairments

What happens to oligodendrocytes in MS

Attacked by immune system, cannot effectively produce myelin or an adequate amount of myeline to insulate axons

How does MS affect normal function of myelin

Cannot effective insulate axons, can result in slower transmission or complete loss of transmission of action potentials

Plaques in MS

Areas of myelin loss within cns, location of plaque will cause reduction to or loss of function in that body region

Three types of MS

Relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive

Relapse in MS

Condition deteriorates, subsequent increase in MS specific symptoms causing a larger loss of function, must last 24 hours to be considered a relapse

Remission in MS

Condition improves seen in improved cns functioning, symptoms resolve but not to original function

Secondary progressive MS

Follows relapsing-remitting MS, first experiences relapse and remission and then progressively continues to worsen over time

Primary progressive MS

Patient does not experience remission, experiences progressive worsening of condition but can still have relapses

Sensory impairments

Tingling = primary somatosensory cortex, numbness = primary somatosensory cortex, vertigo or sensation of dizziness = vestibular nuclei and cerebellum, blurred vision or pain on eye movement = optic nerve

Motor impairments

Fatigue, ataxic gait = cerebellum and cerebellar tracts, muscle weakness = primary motor cortex and corticospinal tract, intention tremor = lesion in cerebellum, postural instability = spinocerebellar tracts, spasticity or increased muscle stiffness = descending motor tracts

Speech impairments

Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing = primary motor cortex, corticobulbar tract and cranial nerves, dysarthria or difficulty articulating = primary motor cortex, corticobulbar tract and cranial nerves, expressive aphasia or difficulty word finding = broca’s area, brocas aphasia or difficulty with speech production

Cognitive impairments

Short term memory loss = medial temporal lobe and lateral frontal cortex, depression, pain, anxiety