Understanding MS

Who gets MS?

Close to 400,000 Americans have MS, and as many as 2.5 million people are affected worldwide. In fact, MS is the most common neurological disorder in young adults, with most cases diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. About 70% of all people diagnosed with MS are women. Most people, especially women, will have their first symptoms and get diagnosed before the age of 30.^1,2

What's going on in your body?

A diagnosis of MS means that the disease is affecting your central nervous system (CNS). The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the:³

• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Optic nerves

The CNS is the body's command center. It interprets sensory information and sends commands to muscles⁴

Multiple sclerosis literally means "many scars." In MS, myelin is lost in multiple areas, exposing nerve fibers (axons), leaving scar tissue called sclerosis, which disrupts the ability of the damaged nerves to send signals from the brain.

Myelin, a protective fatty tissue, surrounds and protects the nerve fibers of the CNS.¹ Myelin not only protects nerve fibers but makes their job possible. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted. This causes the symptoms of MS.^1,4 Depending on which nerves are damaged, some people may experience problems with balance, muscle coordination, vision, speech, thinking, and other abilities.

Often, MS is "silent" at first. This is because you will not necessarily experience symptoms right away as your body tries to compensate for any axon damage. Other nerves will try to take over the function of the lost or damaged nerves for awhile, and you won't even realize what's going on.⁵

What causes MS?

No one knows exactly what causes MS. Genetics may make some people more prone to developing MS than others. Environmental factors may also play a role. MS appears to be more common in people living in cooler areas as opposed to those in hot climates. Many possible causes of MS are still being investigated. Some research has focused on a possible link between MS and various viruses.²

There are four types of MS.

• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS): This is the most common form of Multiple Sclerosis. About 75 to 85 percent of people with MS begin with RRMS. People with RRMS have periods called relapses or attacks, when symptoms worsen. These periods usually last a few days or weeks. These periods are called relapses or attacks, and they typically last a few weeks. At other times an MS remission may occur. This is when symptoms appear to subside; however, MS is still active and can still progress. Damage to nerves can still occur even though there are no symptoms.¹
  • Clinically Isolated Syndrome: Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) is a one-time event characterized by symptoms that are related to the loss of myelin (the protective coating on nerve fibers). For example, this might be experienced as a single attack of optic neuritis. Those with C.I.S. who go on to experience a second attack are usually considered to have clinically diagnosed multiple sclerosis.
• Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS): Approximately 10 years after onset, about 50% of people with RRMS will progress to the secondary-progressive type of multiple sclerosis. In the case of SPMS the disease state steadily worsens with or without occasional relapses and remissions¹
• Primary Progressive MS (PPMS): This is a relatively rare type of MS (about 10% of the MS population), in which symptoms slowly but continually worsen.¹

• Progressive Relapsing MS (PRMS): This is a rare type of MS (about 5% of the MS population), characterized by a steadily worsening disease state with acute relapses, with or without recovery.¹

Don't delay treatment. Talk to your doctor about BETASERON today.

Over time, the body can't keep up with the destructive process of MS. That's why you don't want to wait to begin treatment. In fact, a study has suggested that MS can cause 4 times more damage during the first year than later on.⁶ That's why immediate treatment with BETASERON is so important. BETASERON is a safe and effective treatment for MS, as shown in more than 17 years of study.^7,8 And people who have been treated with BETASERON continuously* for 17 years have experienced a delay in the progress of their MS, giving them nearly 60% more "cane-free" years from diagnosis.^†

Learn more about MS symptoms and diagnosis.

*Continuous use is defined as >80% of the study duration.

^†Compared with people on other DMTs or receiving no treatment.

References:

1. 1. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). What is MS? Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_ABOUT_what_is_ms Accessed July 2007.
2. 2. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Who gets MS? Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_ABOUT_who_gets_ms Accessed July 2007.
3. 3. Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). MS Diagnosis. Available at: http://www.msaa.com/publications/allaboutms/5.html Accessed July 2007.
4. 4. Cornucopia of Disability Information (CODI) Database. Multiple sclerosis information. Available at: http://codi.buffalo.edu/multiple-sclerosis.htm Accessed July 2007.
5. 5. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). MS the disease. Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_ABOUT_symptoms Accessed July 2007.
6. 6. . Kuhlmann T, Lingfeld G, Bitsch A, Schuchardt J, Brück W. Acute axonal damage in multiple sclerosis is most extensive in early disease stages and decreases over time. Brain. 2002;125:2202-2212.
7. 7. Goodin DS, Ebers G, Traboulsee A, Konieczny A, for the Betaseron^® LTF Study Group. The interferon beta-1b 16-year long-term follow-up study: clinical outcomes. Poster. Presented at the 131st Annual Meeting; October 8-11, 2006; Chicago, IL.
8. 8. G, Traboulsee A, Langdon D, Goodin D, Konieczny A, for the Betaseron^®/Betaferon^® LTF Study Group. The interferon beta-1b 16-year long-term follow-up study: the results. Poster. Presented at the 58th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 1-8, 2006; San Diego, CA.