MC 580: Media Convergence

 

There are four disease courses that MS can take ranging from mild to severe:

• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)

  • Approximately 85% of people have this type of MS

  • Clearly defined attacks (or flare-ups) followed by a recovery period which symptoms improve or no progression of disease

• Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS)

  • Most people that are diagnosed with RRMS will eventually transition to SPMS

  • Disease will progress steadily (not necessarily quickly) sometimes with, sometimes without relapses

• Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS)

  • Steadily worsening neurologic function starting from the beginning

  • Rate of progression may vary over time or have plateaus

  • No distinct relapses or remissions

  • 10% of those diagnosed have this course of MS (William Adams’ type)

• Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS)

  • Least common of four courses

  • Steady progression of disease and occasional increases in attacks/severity

  • May or may not experience recovery after these attacks, but no remissions

 

Even though unfortunately there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, there are some drug treatments that can help those who are living with the disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is coming out with new disease-modifying agents that can reduce the activity of the disease as well as try and increase their comfort and quality of life. Also, there have been various types of therapies used to help with rehabilitation. Most of the aspects those who suffer from MS need help or therapy is in four areas: physical, occupational, cognitive, and vocational.

 

 

Common symptoms of the disease:

• Bladder problems

• Bowel dysfunction

• Depression

• Dizziness/Vertigo

• Emotional changes

• Fatigue

• Itching

• Pain

• Sexual problems

• Spasticity

• Tremors

• Walking/gait difficulties

 

 

After learning how to live and manage Multiple Sclerosis, many people might start to wonder, “What caused this to happen to me in the first place?” More than 2.3 million people suffer from MS worldwide.

 

“I didn’t realize how many people had [MS] nowadays,” said Adams. “Meeting with other people who have it can prepare you for what’s going to happen and at the same time you realize it’s not all that different from how other people are dealing with it.”

 

Although, again no one officially knows what causes Multiple Sclerosis, doctors have concluded some factors of why some people may be more prevalent to having MS than others:

• Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. (Young children and significantly older adults are less common)

• MS is more prevalent in ethnic groups such as:

  • African-American

  • Asians

  • Hispanics/Latinos

  • Caucasians of Northern Europe Ancestry (More common than other ethnicities)

• Location wise, MS is more common in areas farthest from the equator

  • Migration from one geologic area to another can also alter a person’s risk of developing MS

  • Average person in the U.S. has a 1 in 750 chance of developing MS (.1%)

• MS is two to three times more common in women than in men

  • This leads researchers to believe hormones play a significant role in susceptibility to MS

• Genetic patterns have pointed researchers to believe that is another strong factor in who might be more likely to develop MS

  • First degree relatives of someone with MS have approximately 2.5-5% higher risk of developing MS as well

  • An identical twin of someone who already is diagnosed with MS has a 25% chance of developing it also

    • Therefore if genes were solely responsible for passing on and developing the disease, there would be 100% chance that an identical twin would have MS as well. Since it is a one in four chance, scientists know that there are other factors as well

 

With all of this in mind, you can have a greater understanding of what the disease is, what the symptoms are, some ways to treat the side effects, and what some possible reasons are for why people get the disease. Now, more than ever, those who are living with Multiple Sclerosis need help to find a cure. This disease is not going anywhere and in time shows there could be increases in prevalence. Spread awareness for this incurable disease and donate money to research so someday people like William Adams can be treated with a cure.

 

“Considering the other types of handicaps you can run into, MS really is one of the more mild ones. It has bad days, but there are a lot more good ones than bad ones,” said Adams. “Frankly, I want to keep moving as much as I can. […] You just have to keep going. You can’t give up."