Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and is classified as an autoimmune disorder. It is considered the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system and, after epilepsy, the second most common neurological condition. In Switzerland, around 18,000 people are affected by multiple sclerosis.

In multiple sclerosis, the immune system not only attacks external invaders such as viruses or bacteria but also targets the body’s own tissues. In MS, this attack mainly affects the myelin sheaths — the protective coverings of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin sheaths form a protective layer around nerve fibers and help electrical signals travel quickly and reliably through the body — for example, to the muscles, so that we can move purposefully. When this layer is damaged by inflammation, as in MS, the signals may arrive weakened or not at all at their intended destination.

Because such inflammations can occur in various parts of the brain or spinal cord, the symptoms can vary greatly. Some people experience numbness or tingling in their arms or legs. If the optic nerve is inflamed, vision may become blurry, double, or appear as though through a fog. Other individuals have difficulty with movement, feel constantly exhausted (this is referred to as “fatigue”), or have trouble concentrating.

MS can present very differently from one person to another — which is why it is often called “the disease with a thousand faces.”