Multiple sclerosis is the leading cause of severe non-traumatic disability in young adults. Indeed, the average age of onset of symptoms is 30 years. This chronic disease currently affects 150,000 people in France. Every year, May 30 is the official date dedicated to this disease in the world. The opportunity to take stock of this autoimmune pathology which affects the immune system.
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system and causes destruction of myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. The role of the latter is to protect and isolate these fibers. Whether in the evolution or for the symptoms, multiple sclerosis is very heterogeneous and varies according to the patients.
As Inserm explains, the manifestations of the disease change during life in the same patient. Depending on the area of the brain or spinal cord affected, multiple sclerosis can result in motor, sensory, balance, coordination, urinary problems, cognitive problems, or visual symptoms . In 85% of cases, we speak of a "remitting form" with an evolution in the form of relapses. This disease affects women more with a sex ratio of one man to three women, for this most common form.
What risk factors? "A genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis results from the association of several genetic variants, each of which has a small effect on the risk of developing the disease", emphasizes Inserm. A recent study published in the scientific journal Brain and Behavior highlights the impact of certain stressful events in the development of the disease.
“Our results reveal associations between childhood and adult stressors and MS disability level, and adult stressors and change in MS relapse burden since Covid-19," the researchers report. According to the results of this study of 713 people, stressful events in childhood and adulthood (such as poverty, abuse or divorce) can cause deterioration of health.
What are the treatments ? To date, there is no treatment that can cure multiple sclerosis. Medications help prevent flare-ups and improve patients' quality of life but remain ineffective against disease progression.
