Multiple Sclerosis

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

A chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath — the protective covering of nerve fibres — causing inflammation, demyelination, and scarring (sclerosis) that disrupts the transmission of nerve signals; MS can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, visual disturbance, muscle weakness, spasticity, and cognitive difficulties.

Examples

• She was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in her late twenties and began disease-modifying therapy.
• MRI imaging showed new lesions in her brain and spinal cord, confirming disease activity in multiple sclerosis.

Synonyms: MS, disseminated sclerosis