Multiple Sclerosis: A Health Challenge in Focus

Context:

This analysis is written ahead of World Multiple Sclerosis Day on May 30, it provides a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological condition increasingly relevant in India. The piece covers its nature, prevalence, symptoms, and management, offering insights into public health and scientific advancements as of March 22, 2025.

1. Definition: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath (nerve fiber coating) in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting nerve signal transmission.
2. Prevalence: Globally, 2.9 million people live with MS; India’s prevalence is 7-10 per 100,000, with hospital data showing a rise from 1.58% to 2.54% of neurology admissions over decades.
3. Demographics: Most commonly diagnosed between ages 20-40, MS affects women twice as often as men, targeting young adults in their prime.
4. Symptoms: Varies widely—fatigue, walking difficulties, muscle weakness, vision issues (e.g., blurred vision), numbness, and cognitive decline; severity differs per individual.
5. Causes: Exact cause unknown; linked to genetic predisposition (e.g., family history) and environmental factors like low vitamin D, smoking, and Epstein-Barr virus exposure.
6. Diagnosis: Requires medical history review, neurological exams, MRI scans (to detect lesions), lumbar punctures (for spinal fluid markers), and nerve function tests.
7. Types: Includes Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS, single episode), Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS, 85% of cases with flare-ups and remission), and Progressive MS (steady decline).
8. Treatment: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) like interferons and oral drugs reduce relapses; stem cell therapy (experimental) aims to repair damage; symptom management includes physiotherapy.
9. India’s Challenges: Low awareness, delayed diagnosis due to subtle symptoms, and high treatment costs (e.g., ₹7,000/week) burden patients; insurance often excludes MS as “hereditary.”
10. Advancements: Early diagnosis via MRI and new treatments improve quality of life, enabling many to lead active lives despite no cure.

Key Terms:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Autoimmune disease damaging nerve myelin, impairing signal transmission.
• Myelin Sheath: Protective coating around nerve fibers, attacked in MS.
• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS): Most common MS type with episodic symptoms and recovery.
• Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs): Drugs reducing MS flare-ups and progression.
• Epstein-Barr Virus: Virus linked to increased MS risk through immune triggers.
• MRI: Imaging technique detecting MS lesions in the brain and spinal cord.
• Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS): Initial MS episode that may not progress to full disease.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/all-you-need-to-know-about-multiple-sclerosis/article69360897.ece