Multiple Sclerosis: Subtypes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn how multiple sclerosis damages the myelin covering nerves in the brain and spinal cord, plus its types, symptoms, statistics and treatment approaches.
At a Glance
- 1 - Nearly 1 million people in the United States have MS.
- 2 - Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common type, diagnosed in about 85 percent of people with MS at first.
- 3 - More than 20 disease-modifying therapies are approved in the United States to reduce relapses and slow MS.
- 4 - Relapses tend to occur more often in spring and summer, and infections like colds and flu can raise the risk.
Topic Definition
- Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, once known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata, is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective sheath that insulates nerve cells throughout the brain and spinal cord. As this covering is damaged, the flow of signals between the brain and the rest of the body slows or becomes blocked, and over time the nerves themselves can deteriorate in a way that cannot currently be reversed. The scarring left behind in the white matter gives the condition its name, since sclerosis refers to the plaques or lesions that form. Because these nerve pathways touch nearly every function, MS can produce a wide range of symptoms, from muscle weakness and problems with balance and vision to fatigue, pain, and cognitive changes. It most often appears in people between the ages of twenty and fifty, affects women far more than men, and while there is no cure, several therapies can help restore function after an attack and slow the course of the disease.
Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS), also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata, is an inflammatory disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. MS is a disease in which your immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers your nerves. Myelin damage disrupts communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Ultimately, the nerves themselves may deteriorate, a process that's currently irreversible.
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has included Malignant Multiple Sclerosis as a Compassionate Allowance to expedite a disability claim.
MS is not considered a hereditary disease; however, some genetic variations have been shown to increase the risk. The probability is higher in relatives of an affected person, with a greater risk among those more closely related. In identical twins, both are affected about 30% of the time, while around 5% of non-identical twins and 2.5% of siblings are affected, with a lower percentage of half-siblings. If both parents are impacted, the risk in their children is ten times that of the general population. MS is also more common in some ethnic groups than others.
Nearly 1 million people in the United States have MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. It generally occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 50. The disease is twice as common in women as in men. The illness is probably an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system responds as if part of your body is a foreign substance.
Multiple sclerosis refers to the white matter's scars (sclerosis - better known as plaques or lesions). Multiple sclerosis may take several forms, with new symptoms occurring either in discrete attacks (relapsing forms) or slowly accumulating over time (progressive forms).
MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation (hypoesthesia), muscle weakness, abnormal muscle spasms, or difficulty in moving; difficulties with coordination and balance (ataxia); problems in speech (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia), visual problems (nystagmus, optic neuritis, or diplopia), fatigue and acute or chronic pain syndromes, bladder and bowel difficulties, cognitive impairment, or emotional symptomatology (mainly depression).
MS affects the neurons in the brain and spinal cord areas known as the white matter. These cells carry signals between the gray matter areas, where the processing is done, and between these and the rest of the body. In MS, your body directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath surrounding nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and your nerves. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). The damage slows or blocks muscle coordination, visual sensation, and other nerve signals.
Multiple sclerosis relapses are often unpredictable and can occur unexpectedly without obvious inciting factors. Some attacks, however, are preceded by common triggers. Relapses occur more frequently during spring and summer than during autumn and winter. Infections, such as the common cold, influenza, and gastroenteritis, increase the risk of a relapse. The disease varies in severity, ranging from mild illness to one that results in permanent disability.
Despite the ongoing efforts of medical scientists to reveal the factors responsible for causing multiple sclerosis, the exact reasons why the disorder occurs in otherwise healthy persons remain unknown. Although various factors are suspected of triggering multiple sclerosis (viral or bacterial infections) or facilitating its progression (genetic dysfunctions and various external environmental factors), medical scientists haven't yet reached a consensus regarding the exact causes of the disorder.
At first, multiple sclerosis causes impairments only at the central nervous system level. In more advanced stages of progression, multiple sclerosis can involve virtually any innervated region (any part of the body that contains a network of nerves). Without proper medical treatment - which is most effective when administered in the early stages of disease - multiple sclerosis can cause a variety of disabilities and sometimes even death.
Types of MS
Doctors describe the course of multiple sclerosis using four main types, defined in 2013 by an international committee of MS experts [Lublin et al., 2014]:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): a first episode of symptoms, lasting at least 24 hours, caused by inflammation and loss of myelin in the central nervous system. Not everyone with CIS goes on to develop MS.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): the most common type, diagnosed in about 85 percent of people with MS at first. It involves clearly defined attacks (relapses) of new or worsening symptoms, followed by periods of partial or complete recovery (remissions).
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): follows an initial relapsing-remitting course. Over time, many people with untreated RRMS move to a phase in which disability gradually increases, with or without relapses.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): affects about 10 to 15 percent of people with MS. Symptoms worsen steadily from the start, without early relapses or remissions.
Each type can also be described as active or not active, and as worsening or stable. The term progressive-relapsing MS is no longer used. "Benign MS" is an informal term for mild disease after many years, and malignant (Marburg) MS is a rare, rapidly progressing form that can be fatal within a short time.
Treatment
There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, but treatment has improved greatly. More than 20 disease-modifying therapies, given as injections, pills or infusions, are approved in the United States to reduce relapses and slow the build-up of damage, including ocrelizumab, the first medicine approved for primary progressive MS, in 2017. Steroids can shorten relapses, and other treatments, rehabilitation and exercise help manage symptoms such as fatigue, muscle stiffness, bladder problems and pain. The main aims of therapy are returning function after an attack, preventing new attacks, and preventing disability.
MS Statistics
- Nearly 1 million people in the United States and about 2.9 million people worldwide have MS [National Multiple Sclerosis Society, n.d.; Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, 2023].
- Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
- MS is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men.
- MS is more common among people of Northern European descent and in places farther from the equator, but it occurs in all ethnic groups.
- MS is the most common disabling neurological condition of young adults worldwide.
Research: A New Type of Immune Cell
In 2016, a research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) reported a new type of immune T helper cell, named TH-GM, that plays a key role in the inflammation of the nervous system seen in MS. The team showed that STAT5, a member of the STAT family of proteins, programs TH-GM cells in response to a signal from the interleukin IL-7, causing neuroinflammation and damage in the central nervous system. Blocking IL-7 or STAT5 could offer a new route to treatment. The study was published in the journal Cell Research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is multiple sclerosis fatal?
Most forms of MS are not directly fatal and many people live a normal or near-normal life span, though the rare malignant subtype progresses rapidly and is often deadly.
Is MS the same as muscular dystrophy?
No, MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin around nerves, while muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness, so they are entirely different disorders.
Can multiple sclerosis be cured?
There is currently no known cure for multiple sclerosis, but several therapies can help restore function after an attack, reduce the frequency of new attacks, and slow the progression toward disability.
What is the difference between MS and ALS?
MS damages the myelin insulation around nerves and often follows a relapsing course, while ALS is a progressive motor neuron disease that destroys the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles.
Does diet affect multiple sclerosis?
No specific diet cures MS, but many people focus on balanced nutrition to support overall health and energy, and it is best to discuss individual dietary choices with a physician.
Can you exercise with multiple sclerosis?
Yes, regular and appropriate exercise can help many people with MS maintain strength, balance, and mood, though activity should be tailored to each person and guided by a healthcare provider.
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose MS by combining medical history, neurological examination, MRI scans that reveal lesions in the brain and spinal cord, and sometimes tests of the spinal fluid to rule out other conditions.
What are disease-modifying therapies for MS?
Disease-modifying therapies are medicines that reduce the number of relapses and slow the build-up of damage in relapsing forms of MS. They come as injections, pills, or infusions, and starting early tends to give the best results.
References
- Lublin, F. D., et al. (2014). Defining the clinical course of multiple sclerosis: The 2013 revisions. Neurology, 83(3), 278-286.
- Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. (2023). Atlas of MS (3rd ed., updated data).
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.). Who gets MS?
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: