Multiple Sclerosis

Overview

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system, which normally protects your body, instead attacks the covering (myelin sheath) surrounding the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. These nerves send information from your brain and spinal cord to other nerves in your body, and myelin helps make this transmission efficient.

Attacks of multiple sclerosis lead to inflammation and injury to the myelin sheath, resulting in slowed or blocked nerve signals, which can lead to difficulty controlling vision, muscle coordination, strength, sensation and other bodily functions.

Multiple sclerosis can affect people of any age, although symptoms most commonly occur in people 20 to 40 years old. Women are twice as likely to develop MS as are men.

Read more about diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for multiple sclerosis

• Experience. Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose and treat more than 3,500 adults and children with multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders, including optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

  Doctors at Mayo Clinic evaluate and treat more than 2,500 people with multiple sclerosis.

• Team approach. Doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) work together with doctors trained in brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatrists), bladder management (urologists), brain conditions and mental health conditions (neuropsychologists), mental health conditions (psychiatrists), hereditary conditions (medical geneticists), brain and eye conditions (neuro-ophthalmologists), and other areas to create individualized treatment plans for people with MS and related conditions.

• Treatment expertise. Doctors at Mayo Clinic have experience treating multiple sclerosis and helping people manage MS symptoms. Although MS can't be cured, doctors may treat your condition with medications that may reduce the number, length or severity of MS attacks, or slow progression of your condition.

  Doctors may give you medications to treat MS symptoms, such as spasms, fatigue and walking problems. Staff also offers physical and occupational therapy to help you maintain movement and adjust to living with physical changes due to MS.

• Pediatric center. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has recognized the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota as a Pediatric MS Center of Excellence. The multidisciplinary center focuses on the evaluation and treatment of children with multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders.

  Doctors trained in treating children with brain and nervous system conditions (pediatric neurologists) and others evaluate and treat children with MS at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

• Research. Mayo Clinic researchers study causes, disease progression and potential new treatments for multiple sclerosis and related conditions and conduct clinical trials clintrials.html.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery and rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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