| The central nervous system in the human body | | | | disabilities that may develop in multiple |
| contains millions of nerve cells that are joined | | | | sclerosis.Doctors and researchers do not understand |
| together by nerve fibers. Tiny electrical impulses | | | | what causes this autoimmune reaction.Some |
| originate in these nerve cells and travel along the | | | | researchers believe that multiple sclerosis may be |
| nerve fibers to and from the brain. These nerve | | | | caused due to genetic predispositions in some cases. |
| fibers are coated and protected by a fatty | | | | In others cases, it may be caused due to micro |
| substance know as myelin. Myelin sheaths play a role | | | | organisms mimicking certain human cell surface |
| similar to insulation shields in electrical wires.In people | | | | molecules present on the myelin sheath, as a result |
| suffering from multiple sclerosis, the cells producing | | | | of which the antibodies may in turn attack the myelin |
| the myelin sheath are mistakenly attacked and | | | | sheath. Examples of such viruses, which may be |
| destroyed by the immune system. This results in the | | | | responsible in these cases include, among others, |
| myelin becoming inflamed and swollen and getting | | | | Epstine Barr Virus and the Human Herpes Virus 6. |
| detached from the fibers. The detached myelin may | | | | AIDS patient may contract multiple sclerosis due to |
| eventually get destructed. Hardened (sclerosed) | | | | immune disorders.A hypothesis that is being |
| patches of scar tissue get formed over the nerve | | | | considered presents the argument that since this |
| fibers. When nerve impulses reach such a damaged | | | | disease is common in the temperate regions, it may |
| area, some of these impulses get blocked or are | | | | signify that certain climatic conditions may be |
| delayed from traveling to or from the brain. This | | | | triggering off biochemical reactions which may result |
| process eventually leads to degeneration of the | | | | in demyelination and thus multiple sclerosis. |
| nerves themselves, which explains the permanent | | | | |