5 million individuals, around the world today .
In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks .
Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease of the Central .
Nervous System, for which there is no cure. Your central nervous system .
consists of three main parts, the spinal cord, brain, and the optical nerves. A .
substance rich in protein and lipids known as Myelin surrounds and protects .
the nerve firbers of the CNS (central nevous system). This substance aids in .
the ability for nerve fibers to conduct electrical impulses. In this disease, .
Myelin is lost in many areas leaving scars (sclerosis) known as plaques or .
lesions hence the name Multiple Sclerosis. The various symptoms of MS are .
produced from the damaging and or destruction of Myelin around the nerve .
fiber which prohibits the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses .
to and from the brain. Therfore, in the case of an autoimmune desease like .
Multiple Sclerosis, the tissue being attacked is Myelin.
Any person of any gender at any age can develope Multiple Sclerosis. .
Although, there has been some patterns which can suggest like wise. On .
average, most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 .
and two-three times as many women to men have MS. Multiple Sclerosis is .
not a direct inherited disease however, Studies have indicate that genetic .
factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others. MS also .
occurs with much less frequency in lower latitudes closer to the equator, .
than in higher latitudes, further away from the equator. There also may be .
environmental factors that increase or decrease an individual's risk of .
developing MS. One possible factor being studyed is the increased sunlight .
exposure to people around the equator which results in the increase in the .
body's production of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body use calcium and .
can alter immune attacks in Multiple Sclerosis. This theory was proven .