What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, affecting more than 200,000 people in Germany. Due to a reaction of the body against its own nerve cells, the myelin sheath, which normally is a protective layer that encompasses nerve tracts and improves their conductibility, is destroyed. The cause of this autoimmune reaction is still unknown. This is why research in multiple sclerosis, as is being performed in the KKNMS, is so important.

Because nerve damage can occur in different parts of the brain and spinal cord, the symptoms of MS are complex: visual disturbances, symptoms of paralysis, numbness, double vision, dizziness – just to mention a few of the most important ones. Multiple sclerosis is thus also called the disease with a thousand faces.

Even though MS is still incurable, there are now drugs which can reduce the disease activity and moderate the disease course.