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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved Health A-Z Brain & Nervous System Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Living With Support & Coping Complementary Therapies Secondary Progressive MS Relapsing-Remitting MS Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD Updated on February 01, 2023 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the protective covering of nerve cells (myelin) of the brain, spinal cord, and/or eyes. This impairs nerve signaling and causes a wide variety of potential symptoms, such as muscle weakness, pain, and problems with thinking and memory. The precise cause of MS is unknown. Understanding MS The Different Types of MS Multiple Sclerosis Facts and Statistics What Are the Stages of Multiple Sclerosis? The Link Between MS and Your Immune System Symptoms What Are the Early Signs and Symptoms of MS? What’s the Link Between MS and Brain Fog? Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Painful? What Does MS Do to Your Body? Signs of MS in Women vs. Men How Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Can Cause Eye Twitching & Other Eye Issues Do MS Symptoms Fluctuate During the Day and At Night? Scanning Speech: Everything You Need to Know Frequently Asked Questions What causes multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis symptoms are caused by your immune system mistakenly destroying the myelin sheath on the nerves, which impairs their function. Researchers are still trying to determine what leads to the autoimmune reaction, but sound theories include infectious disease, vitamin D levels, and a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Learn More Causes of Multiple Sclerosis Is multiple sclerosis genetic? Experts suspect that certain genetic combinations increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis. They’ve identified several genes that appear to be linked to the disease. If you have a parent or sibling who has it, you’re more likely to develop it. However, it’s far from guaranteed—a parent raises your risk from 0.13 to 2% and a sibling raises it to 5%. Learn More Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis Is multiple sclerosis fatal? Multiple sclerosis is rarely fatal. Some people with this disease may have a lifespan that’s slightly shorter than average, but it’s increased over time due to better treatments. Most people with multiple sclerosis live long lives and die of unrelated causes, like heart disease or cancer. Learn More Multiple Sclerosis and Life Expectancy How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed? Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed using a variety of tests, including: Neurological exam Evoked potential test (to evaluate nerve response) MRI of the brain and/or spinal cord Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Tests to rule out other potential causes of symptoms Diagnosing this disease can be difficult. Symptoms can be subtle and many are shared by other medical conditions. Learn More Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Everything You Need to Know About Multiple Sclerosis Medications CBD for Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Benefits, Types, Dosage How Much Does Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Cost? Can Using Natural Treatments for MS Improve Symptoms? Living With MS 7 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Groups What Diet Should I Follow for Multiple Sclerosis? How to Talk to Strangers About Your Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Facts and Statistics How to Get Your MS Disability Claim Approved All About Multiple Sclerosis in Young Adults Key Terms Demyelinating Disease Encephalomyelitis Evoked Potential Tests Immune Disorder Myelin Sheath Relapsing-remitting MS Spinal Tap Demyelinating Disease In demyelinating disease, the myelin sheaths that protect your nerves are damaged or destroyed. It can affect the nervous system, causing weakness, numbness, slurred speech, vision changes, cognitive dysfunction, and much more. Demyelinating diseases include multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PLM). An Overview of Demyelination Encephalomyelitis Encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Encephalo means brain, myel means spinal cord, and itis means inflammation. It’s a characteristic of certain neurological diseases, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Evoked Potential Tests An evoked potential test measures the time it takes for a signal to travel from a nerve to the brain. It also measures the strength of the signal. Slow signals can indicate nerve damage, such as that of multiple sclerosis. However, this test is becoming less common for diagnosing MS because MRI is usually preferred. How Multiple Sclerosis Is Diagnosed Immune Disorder An immune disorder is a condition involving improper function of the immune system, which is designed to protect you from illness. Some people are born with a deficient immune system. others have theirs weakened by disease. An overactive immune system causes allergies. When your immune system attacks a part of your body, it’s called autoimmunity. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.   Myelin Sheath The myelin sheath is a protective coating on your nerve fibers that enables electrical impulses to travel rapidly from one nerve to another. In multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, the sheath is damaged or destroyed, which interrupts, or even stops, these signals and causes a wide array of symptoms. The Anatomy of the Myelin Sheath Relapsing-remitting MS The most common form of multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting MS involves times when symptoms are highly active (relapsing) and times when they aren’t (remitting). Remission can include less severe symptoms or no symptoms at all. An Overview of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Tap Also called lumbar puncture, a spinal tap is a procedure that involves inserting a needle between the vertebrae. It’s most often performed to remove cerebrospinal fluid from your spine so it can be examined for signs of disease, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, or meningitis. It’s also used to lower pressure in your brain, deliver anesthesia, and inject medication, dye, or antibiotics. What Is a Spinal Tap? Diagnosis 4 Steps for Looking for an MS Healthcare Provider Diseases That Can Mimic Multiple Sclerosis Can You Get a Genetic Test for Multiple Sclerosis? What Are Gadolinium Enhancing Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis? What Causes Multiple Sclerosis? What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? How Long Does It Take for...