It's also known as MS. In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, known as myelin. This interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage of the nerve fibers.
Many people with MS use a variety of alternative or complementary treatments to help manage their symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle pain. Exercise, meditation, yoga, massage, eating a healthier diet, acupuncture and relaxation techniques may help boost overall mental and physical well-being.
Mayo Clinic's MS care teams evaluate thousands of people with MS each year. With a concentration on MS and vast experience, Mayo Clinic specialists are able to make accurate diagnoses and recommend effective treatments from the start.
MS is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the protective sheath called myelin that covers and protects the central nervous system’s nerve fibers.
Although there is no cure for MS, there are therapies that help reduce the risk of relapses and slow the disease’s progression. Treatment depends on the type of MS.
Departments and specialties Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.
Researchers are exploring whether destroying the immune system and then replacing it with transplanted stem cells can “reset” the immune system of someone with MS.
We don't know what causes MS, but there are certain factors that may increase the risk or trigger its onset. So while MS can occur at any age, it mostly makes its first appearance in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Women are often diagnosed with MS during their childbearing years. These healthcare professionals help women who have MS make decisions around family planning, reproductive health, pregnancy and postnatal care.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this disease, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it.
