Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly targets and harms the protective fatty myelin sheath surrounding nerves. Myelin plays a crucial role in insulating and safeguarding nerves, ensuring the electrical signals from the brain to the body travel swiftly and effectively. The disease can lead to issues with muscle coordination, vision, balance, sensation, and thinking, sometimes resulting in significant disabilities.
Typically, MS manifests between the ages of 20 and 40 and is the most common disabling neurological disease in young adults. Currently, nearly 1 million individuals in the United States have it.
