Multiple Sclerosis

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

A chronic, progressive, degenerative disease characterized by lesions/plaques in the CNS

One of the most common acquired neurological diseases in young adults

Question 2

Risk factors

Answer 2

• genetic predisposition (focused on the HLA gene complex)
• geographic latitude (related to vitamin D exposure, closer to equator lower risk)
• infections (may initiate or maintain the pathological immune response in MS, can be triggered by viral infections, those with MS contract more childhood illnesses/ more illnesses later)
• hormones/pregnancy/menstrual cycle
• gut microbiome
• smoking alcohol diabetes

Question 3

4 different disease courses

Answer 3

Relapsing-remitting MS
Primary-progressive MS
Secondary-progressive MS
Progressive-relapsing MS

Question 4

Relapsing-remitting MS

Answer 4

Acute episodes of neurological deterioration with variable recovery but a stable course between attacks

Question 5

Primary-progressive MS

Answer 5

Steady disease progression from symptom onset with possible occasional plateaus and possible minor improvements

Question 6

Secondary-progressive MS

Answer 6

60% of ppl with rrms progress to this, initial rrms presentation followed by phase of progressive deterioration with/without occasional relapses or minor plateaus

The inevitable long term outcome for the majority of rrms patients

Question 7

Progressive-relapsing MS

Answer 7

Rare, progressive disease from symptom onset with clear acute relapses with/without full recovery

Question 8

Cognitive impairment

Answer 8

Prevalence is 43-70%
Measurable by neuropsychological tests
5-10% have cognitive changes so severe that they seriously disrupt daily life
Domains that can be affected: attention, info processing speed, verbal/visual memory, language

Question 9

Information processing speed

Answer 9

Will pretty much be biggest sign for MS
because there is damage to the myelin

Question 10

Measurement of cognition in MS

Answer 10

Neuropsych assessment