Disease Information

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. (SOURCE: Mayo Clinic) 

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a genetically complex autoimmune disease with an incidence and prevalence that is reported to differ with race and ethnicity. World distribution supports that northern latitudes have the highest prevalence of MS and that its considerably lower in Asian and Hispanic populations. However, the incidence of MS for African Americans is increasing which could suggest both environmental and genetic changes. On the other hand, Hispanics are increasingly reported among pediatric MS cohorts with an overall younger age of onset noted among Hispanic adult cohorts. (SOURCE: National Institute of Health)