To understand the role Multiple Sclerosis Myelin Sheath damage plays in the symptoms and destruction of quality of life for MS patients, you must start with some basic understanding of the Central Nervous System. The CNS consists of regions of white matter and grey matter. The white matter is responsible for communication between the grey matter, where the “processing of signals” is done.
The neurons in this white matter tissue are the ones usually attacked in multiple sclerosis. This kind of neuron is a long thin cell with a bulb-like head called a soma, which contains the cell nucleus and also a long, thin strand called an axon. The soma has tendrils called dendrites growing out of it.
The axon of one neuron connects to the tendrils of other neurons by a connection called a synapse. Signals or impulses travel down the axon and then are transmitted to other neurons via chemical signals (neurotransmitters) that move across the synapse.
The white matter is called white because it has a lot of nerve fibers, or neurons, that have an insulting white colored fatty protein named myelin. This myelin acts as a sheath, or protection and covers the axon. Multiple Sclerosis Myelin Sheath damage occurs when lesions form on this myelin. When a patient has a flare-up of MS, myelin sheath is stripped from the nerve fiber by white blood cells that flock to the white matter and participate in an inflammatory response. The stripping of this white, fatty protein is called demyelination.
This results in a disruption of the communication of nerve impulses. When MS myelin sheath damage occurs, this communication is slowed, stopped, or just leaks out,
The disease progresses
Along with disruption of the communication between the areas of gray matter, the inflammation also kills glial, which is a maintenance cell. One of the maintenance cells that are killed in large numbers is oligodendrocytes, a cell whose job it is to produce myelin. In the midst of a relapse, almost none of the body’s oligodendrocytes cells are left alive.
As MS progresses, axons are destroyed as well. During the secondary-progressive phase of MS, the inflammation becomes less common but the axons keep on dying. So these processes of inflammation, demyelination, axon death, oligodendrocytes destruction, and membrane destruction cause all of the symptoms of MS. It is here where the research is mostly focused. All of these processes are not fully understood. But while you are deciding on what treatments to use or not use, it is important to keep your body well-nourished with a proper diet and as much exercise as you can tolerate. Many people think nutrition may play just as important a role in MS treatment as any of the drugs already approved or currently in trial.
