GreyBruceBoomers_Summer2020

y Ben Forrest
HEALTH & WELLNESS
It’s unclear why, but Canada has
one of the highest rates of multiple
sclerosis (MS) in the world.
This unpredictable and debilitating autoimmune disease
affects an estimated 77,000 Canadians — roughly one in
every 385.
It is one of Canada’s most common neurological
conditions, and is three times more likely to occur in
women than in men.
There is no cure for MS, and the disease affects each
person differently. But there is hope for a cure. As
researchers learn more about what causes the disease,
how to prevent it and how to repair the damage it causes,
the outlook is increasingly positive.
Here is a primer on the symptoms of MS, its potential
causes, and expert guidance on how to manage and
mitigate its effects.
What is MS?
MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous
system. It causes the immune system to malfunction and
attack healthy cells called myelin, a soft, white mixture of
protein and fatty substances that forms an insulating layer
around nerves in the brain and spine.
Myelin allows electrical impulses to move quickly along
nerve cells. If damaged, those impulses slow down. When
the damage is substantial, and if scar tissue replaces
myelin, nerve fibres can be damaged and nerve impulses
may be entirely disrupted. If the damage is less severe,
these impulses continue to travel with minor disruptions.
It’s unclear what causes MS, but the best current
evidence suggests that genetic, biological, lifestyle and
environmental factors all contribute, according to the MS
Society of Canada. Several hypotheses about the higher
prevalence of MS in Canada have been presented, but
doctors aren’t sure why it occurs more frequently here.
Most people with MS are diagnosed when they are
between the ages of 20 and 49, but some people are also
diagnosed when they are children, or as older adults.
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