Not Medical Advice: The slowdown of neural communication in multiple sclerosis involves a degeneration of the myelin sheath.
Myelin sheath is a greatly extended and modified plasma membrane wrapped around the nerve axon in a spiral fashion. The myelin membranes originate from and are a part of the Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the oligodendroglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
Each myelin-generating cell furnishes myelin for only one segment of any given axon. The periodic interruptions where short portions of the axon are left uncovered by myelin are the nodes of Ranvier, and they are critical to the functioning of myelin.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a nervous system disorder of unknown origin, and it has no cure. The disease is more common in women than in men, and it is often diagnosed before the age of 40.
Multiple sclerosis is caused by degradation of the myelin sheath. It can produce blurred vision, muscle weakness, tremors and difficulty walking. In the early stages, MS symptoms may be transitory, with myelin degradation followed by myelin repair. It is thought that MS may be caused by an unknown virus. Most MS patients with mild symptoms are able to lead a normal life.
Check out Top 10 Tips for Managing Daily Life With MS, shared by EverydayHealth.com.