Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable and potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, which interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. MS is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, scarring, and neuronal loss.
The disease is thought to be triggered in a genetically susceptible individual by a combination of one or more environmental factors. In MS, the immune system attacks tissue and cells within the central nervous system (CNS) and causes damage to nerve connections resulting in neurological symptoms. The cause of MS is unknown although it is thought to be an autoimmune disease. However, others disagree since the specific target of the immune attack in MS has not yet been identified. For this reason, MS is referred to as an immune-mediated disease.