Health Ask the Expert: What Do I Need to Know About How Multiple Sclerosis Affects the Brain? Written by Barbara S. Giesser, MD 1. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. How does MS affect these areas, and what are some of the issues MS causes with brain health specifically? Nerves communicate with each other and with the rest of the body by sending electrical and chemical signals.  To understand how your nerves work, think about how they’re similar to electrical cables. Nerves consist of a “wire,” which we call the axon. The axon is covered by insulating material called myelin. MS damages the myelin so that the nerve’s ability to conduct electrical signals is slowed and uncoordinated. If the axon is also damaged, the electrical signal may be blocked entirely. When this happens, the nerve can’t send appropriate information. This produces symptoms. For example, if a muscle doesn’t receive s

Health The Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on Your Body Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., R.N., CRNA — Written by Ann Pietrangelo — Updated on August 26, 2020 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative and inflammatory immune condition that causes problems throughout the body. It’s caused by a breakdown of the protective cover (myelin sheath) around the nerves. This makes it hard for the brain to communicate to the rest of the body. The exact cause of MS is still unknown, but doctors do understand the long-term effects and symptoms of MS. Read on to learn more about the effects of MS on your body. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine Trusted Source , early multiple sclerosis symptoms tend to show up in adults 20 to 40 years of age. Women are also diagnosed with MS at least twice as often as men. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease and a progressive neurodegenerative condition. However, the exact cause is unknown and there’s currently no c