Multiple Sclerosis Exam Questions with Answers

Multiple Sclerosis Exam Questions with Answers What is multiple sclerosis? - Answer-autoimmune disease of the CNS immune system attacks myelin, which surrounds and insulates nerves, causing distorsion/interruption of nerve impulses going to or from the brain What age range is most commonly diagnosed? - Answer-patients between ages of 20 and 50, but it can occur in young children + elderly three times more common in women than men more prevalent among caucasians than other ethnicities Does MS have a genetic component? - Answer-It is believed so because people having a first relative affected with the disease have a higher incidence than the general population What causes MS? - Answer-exact cause is unknown believed to be any combination of immunologic, environmental, infectious, or genetic factors possible role of viruses in the cause of MS (unproven) What happens when the immune system attacks the myelin of the CNS? - Answer-causes inflammation and degeneration of the myelin and can lead to demyelination, or stripping of the myelin covering of the nerves. It can also cause scarring. This causes electrical impulses to travel more slowly along the nerves resulting in deterioration of function in body processes such as vision, speech, walking, writing, and memory Is MS inherited? - Answer-it is not hereditary, but genetics are believed to play a role an outside trigger is believed to be the primary cause What are the four types of MS? - Answer-Relapsing-remitting (RR MS) Primary-progressive (PP MS) Secondary-progressive (SP MS) Progressive-relapsing (PR MS) Which is the most common type of MS? - Answer-Relapsing-remitting (RR MS), affects 85% of those who have MS