January 28, 2007
Multiple Sclerosis: Is there a cure ahead?
A National Non-Profit Organization called Accelerated Cure out of Waltham, MA is dedicated to curing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by determining the cause of MS.
“We believe the route to finding the cure will most quickly come from determining the cause or causes of MS. The causes will be found by developing a logical, organized, straight-forward process based on what is known about the causes of disease in general. This process must be clearly spelled out and presented in a manner that is accessible to those involved: researchers, clinicians, and individuals with MS. We call the plan that is emerging from this process the ‘Cure Map.’” - Accelerated Cure
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects neurons, the cells of the brain and spinal cord that carry information, create thought and perception, and allow the brain to control the body. Surrounding and protecting some of these neurons is a fatty layer known as the myelin sheath, which helps neurons carry electrical signals. MS causes gradual destruction of myelin (demyelination) and transection of neuron axons in patches throughout the brain and spinal cord. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin sheaths. This scarring causes symptoms which vary widely depending upon which signals are interrupted. The predominant theory today is that MS results from attacks by an individual’s immune system on the nervous system and it is therefore usually categorized as an autoimmune disease. There is a minority view that MS is not an autoimmune disease, but rather a metabolically dependent neurodegenerative disease.
Multiple sclerosis may take several different forms, with new symptoms occurring either in discrete attacks or slowly accruing over time. Between attacks, symptoms may resolve completely, but permanent neurologic problems often persist. Although much is known about how MS causes damage, its exact cause remains unknown. MS currently does not have a cure, though several treatments are available which may slow the appearance of new symptoms. MS primarily affects adults, with an age of onset typically between 20 and 40 years, and is more common in women than in men.
If you would like to contribute to finding a cure for MS, many people who have Multiple Sclerosis and also their families would really appreciate it. I know that a cure for Multiple Sclerosis would help my mother, who was diagnosed with MS in 1990 when I was very young.
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