Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is primarily characterized as a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease. MS affects the central nervous system (CNS), mainly the white matter tissue, producing plaques or lesions in the brain and spinal cord. The white matter tissue contains nerve fibers, which transmit electrical signals throughout the nervous system. In addition to CNS lesions, MS is also characterized as an autoimmune disorder, which involves a dysregulation of the immune system causing the myelin sheath to be degraded. The myelin sheath insulates axons allowing for quicker nerve impulses between cells. Thus, this demyelinating process leads to the retardation or complete blockage of signal pathways in the CNS. The axons may also be damaged due to lack of insulation and nutrients supplied by surrounding cells. The inflammation can also affect the oligodendrocytes, which nourish the nerve cells. It is through these processes that scar tissue is formed (“sclerosis”) in various areas in the CNS (“multiple”).