When it comes
to what causes
Multiple Sclerosis, several things are being
considered, as possible causes of MS.
Potential causes of Multiple Sclerosis appear to be
directing the MS
research, as to
which direction they are heading, while the search for a cure
for Multiple
Sclerosis continues.
Multiple
Sclerosis is considered by the medical community to be an autoimmune
disorder,
where the body becomes confused in some way to where it attacks itself,
as if it
is a foreign invader, that the body needs to defend itself against.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that includes a broad range of
symptoms, which
are not usually the same set of symptoms from one case of MS to the
next.
Since it appears that each case of Multiple Sclerosis includes
different
combinations of MS symptoms, it is also suspected that there may be
several
different MS
causes.
On top of this, the disease process itself for Multiple Sclerosis is
not well
understood by the medical community up until this point, which has
prompted the
ms research to be pursued in several different directions at the same
time, by
different groups of medical researchers in different locations
throughout the
world.
Because the number of cases of Multiple Sclerosis are increasing at an
alarming
rate, as to the appearance of the number of cases of MS and
the severity
of the symptoms of MS, there is much more of an urgency by the medical
communities doing ms research around the world as they are racing for
finding a
cure to Multiple Sclerosis.
The MS research groups in different countries around the world are
joining
forces more often in the hopes that this will help to speed up the
process for
finding a cure to Multiple Sclerosis.
During the research process, researchers are hoping that more
will
be
understood about how and what is affecting the body that can result in
the
scarring and possible nerve damage that is so often associated with MS.
As the question what causes Multiple Sclerosis
is still being pursued, so are possible solutions for reversing the
effects of Multiple Sclerosis on the body.
Stem cells are one of the ways, that are being considered, as
a potential way of reversing the effects of Multiple Sclerosis
on the body, including helping to regenerate the damage myelin sheath
along the spinal cord.
Stem cells are known to be
part of the nervous system that are the maineneance and repair
cells for the nervous system and other cells through out the
body.
Some types of
stem cells are being found to be able to adapt themselves
to form whatever
type of cell is needed for repairing damage to different parts
of the
body.
This includes repairing cells
in the brain, blood, bone and nerves,
including the myelin sheath along the spinal cord.
There are more Multiple
Sclerosis research groups that are more dedicated to study myelin and
stems
cells and how they work to repair damage in the body that are examining
the
possibilities for adapting or coaxing stem cells into producing and
repairing
or replacing more of the damaged stem cells in those diagnosed with MS.
Further advancements need
to be accomplished in the areas of stem cell research and myelin
research
before any promising results may be seen that gives more hope to those
of us
with MS.
During the research process, there is also the hope that more
will be
understood about how and what is affecting the body that can result in
the
scarring and possible nerve damage that is so often associated with
Multiple
Sclerosis.
MS research continues to reveal more about how the disease process for
Multiple
Sclerosis works, about the possible causes of MS and about ms
discoveries that are revealing more about how the demyelination and
re-myelination of the
spinal cord in those with the MS diagnosis may help the body work on
starting
to repair the damage to the myelin sheath along the spinal cord after
each MS
attack is over.
Possible theories, as to what
causes Multiple Sclerosis, which are being investigated using
MS research include:
* Viruses
Viruses being considered
include:
-- Epstein Barr
virus (this
virus is linked to
mononucleosis)
-- German measles
(since this
virus is known
to attack nerves)
-- Chicken pox virus
-- Lymes disease
This may be
considered as an initiating
factor that may help to set the body up
for MS.
Other
viruses are also
under consideration by the medical community for
either setting up the
body for MS or as part of the main cause of Multiple Sclerosis
* Environmental toxins -- heavy
metals (mercury, lead, arsenic
and others), pesticides and some other chemicals that are known to
aggressively
attack nerves and cause nerve damage
* Genetics -- it is thought that there may be a
genetic link through a
genetic mutation in our DNA that predisposes us for setting up our
systems for
Multiple Sclerosis to occur. This idea has not been verified at this
point,
since genetic researchers are finding out more about gene sequences
where there
are certain sets of circumstances that turn off and on the genes like a
light
switch.
The thinking of the medical community is becoming more open to the idea
that we
are not doomed to be what our DNA appears to lock us into as to which
diseases
we display in our bodies. If researchers can get better
understanding of
how to turn the "bad" or damaged genes "off" and turned the
"good" genes "on".
Although the theory of a genetic link in MS is being considered, this
idea has
not been well documented at this point as a potential MS
causes.
* Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions is a potential for another idea of one of the
potential
causes of Multiple Sclerosis.
The thinking is that there is some kind of over the top reaction of the
immune
system or maybe even the nervous system to one or
more chemical, food or
nerve toxin.
This idea has not been verified at this point, but it is being
considered and
explored as a possible cause of Multiple Sclerosis.
* Severe Vitamin
Deficiencies
When
the vitamin deficiencies become more severe, they can result in or at
least
contribute to some of the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.
Certain suspected severe
vitamin deficiencies can
contribute to several of the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.
The main severe vitamin
deficiencies include:
-- vitamin B12
(cyanocobalamine)
-- vitamin B6
(pyridoxine)
-- Vitamin B1
(thiamine)
-- B complex
-- Other B vitamins
-- Essential fatty
acids
-- Omega 3 fats
-- vitamin D
-- Calcium
-- Magnesium
-- Mineral
imbalances
-- Amino acids
(many or
several)
An example of the effects
of severe vitamin deficiencies and how the type of symptoms of MS that
they can
contribute to would be the symptom of leg spasms.
A severe deficiency in
magnesium can actually contribute in a big way to leg spasms.
There are many different types
of effects from more severe vitamin deficiencies, which can contribute
or setup the for MS related symptoms.
Multiple Sclerosis can
actually contribute to the severe vitamin deficiencies, whivh also result, since MS is
known for reducing the ability of the body to absorb nutrients and
vitamins from the food that you eat.
Multiple Sclerosis causes
a malabsorption problem, which
often results in contributing to Leaky Gut syndrome.
Leaky
Gut syndrome is a condition where the digestive tract or the membrane
called the intestines, ends up with holes punched in it, where
undigested food can leak out of the intestines and cause further
symptoms.
The
reduced surface area of the intestines combined with the lack of
integrity of the intestines, along with the presence of the Multiple
Sclerosis, often results in more severe vitamin deficiencies, which can in turn can contribute to symptoms of MS.
Leaky Gut syndrome is a result
of the digestive tract
or the membrane called the intestines from absorbing the nutrients and
vitamins from the food that is eaten.
* Aspartame
This is a curious thing, that doctors have seen that many of the
symptoms of
Multiple Sclerosis tend to appear more often for people who
eat or drink
larger amounts of products containing aspartame, an artificial
sweetener in
many "diet" or "sugar free" foods or drink products.
When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a few of the
doctors that I
went to see for appointments asked me if I ate or drink products
containing
aspartame.
I do not eat or drink food products containing aspartame, myself, but
apparently
there a people who do eat or drink aspartame products, in larger
quantities,
who have symptoms that are similar to that of Multiple Sclerosis, which
appear
to be a problem for them.
In spite of this observation being made by many doctors, it has not
been
verified that there is a link between ms and aspartame.
* Electromagnetic
frequencies and disturbances
There is also a theory that dirty electric or electromagnetic
frequencies may
be potential causes for symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.
There are a few studies, which have been conducted, previously, which
appear to
verify that there may be some kind of link between electromagnetic
disturbances
and MS.
There may also be other theories as to what
causes Multiple Sclerosis, but until
further
research, studies or other ways of verifying these ideas, these are not
being
considered or studied at this point in time.
As further ideas
or information become available
about what may also be other MS
causes, the MS research will pursue and examine
other theories as they become available to further study and maybe even
discover a cure for Multiple Sclerosis to help the millions of people
world
wide to reverse or maybe even some day eliminate the devastating
effects of
Multiple Sclerosis.
MS research will continue to be done in many different
directions at the
same time, as the medical communities, in many countries around the
world, are
joining forces to combat the often devastating effects of Multiple
Sclerosis on
the body in the race for a cure for MS.
