Peripheral demyelination and Cerebral demyelination are two of the advanced effects of Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is a condition where myelin, the protective coating over nerves, gets damaged and is unable to pass on signals from the brain to the nerves. It is unable to increase or aid the speed of impulses along the sheath to the nerves. Another function of myelin that gets impacted is the prevention of electrical current from leaving the axon. When the myelin sheath is damaged, it does not regenerate perfectly. It may do so mildly, but often without finding the correct muscle mass. At the same time some neurons die without re-growth. This process is known as cerebral demyelination. Damage can range from slight peripheral demyelination to severe damage in the central nervous system. When this occurs, signals along the nerve are severely impaired or lost and cause the nerve to wither away. This leads to increased functional insufficiency. This is extremely rare and so far very few cases have been reported.
Effect of Peripheral and Cerebral Demyelination
Progressive central and peripheral demyelination appears to be a distinct type of hereditary adult-onset demyelinating disorder, which can lead on to cerebral demyelination, eventually affecting both the peripheral and central nervous system. Its exact nature remains unknown. The symptoms may vary from dizziness, loss of feeling in the limbs, bowel and urine incontinence, disruption of the cognitive abilities, depression to pain. The symptoms are not predictable and vary from person to person. To a large extent these depend on the part of the brain that has been affected and the functions related to this part.
Dealing with Peripheral and Cerebral Demyelination
Handling the effects of cerebral demyelination is not easy, considering the symptoms patients have to live with. There are medicines available that can arrest further damage to the nerves caused by peripheral demyelination. Medication also takes care of the symptoms arising from such a condition. However, research is still underway and there is no definite cure to reverse the damage. Counseling may be required to help the patient cope with the limitations this condition brings about. There are also self-help groups that one can reach out to. Alternate treatments are available, but these are not backed medically. More often than not, the patient will have to adapt a lifestyle change to cope with all the changes and challenges such a condition brings about, until a cure is found.
