Multiple sclerosis, or MS, occurs when the body’s immune system— for reasons unknown—begins to destroy myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. Over time, this destruction leads to scar tissue that prevents nerves from transmitting electrical signals from the brain to muscles and tissues. MS can cause different levels of disability depending on how severe the disease is and how it is managed.
Unlike many neurological conditions that are more likely to start late in life, MS is a chronic, progressive disease that most often begins between 20-40 years of age and impacts women more often than men.