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Show MEDICINE First Clues in the War Sclerosis Multiple Against Medical science is coming closer to solving the puzzling disease which is crippling half a million Americans Jr., M.D. By JAMES Q. SIMMONS,ScUresit Dirfor of young wife, drying A dishes, lets go of the coffee cup she'd been holding. A moment later, she collapses, too suddenly even to reach out to break her fall. A brilliant college student, sitting in an easy chair at a seminar, starts to rise to greet his professor. Struggle as he might, he cannot lift himself more than a few inches. He falls back, helpleas and exhausted. Both people are experiencing the first frightening symptoms of multiple sclerosis. MS is a progressive disease of the central nervous system which strikes adults in the prime of life, 20 to 40 years old. It is not fatal in itself, but a slow, sure crippler for about 500,000 in the U.S. today. The central nervous system consists of the spinal cord and the brain. Nerve fibers in columns are housed within the spinal canal ; these nerves transmit messages to and from the brain and determine movements of arms, legs, organs, and the functioning of all five senses. The fibers are covered by a protective sheath of fatty tissue called myelin similar to insulation on an electric wire. If anything happens to the protective myelin sheath as it does in MS the communicating nerve impulses are distorted, weakened, or blocked. Earlier symptoms may be tingling in the limbs or no sensation at all. This can be followed by vision problems, speech difficulties, a stumbling gait. MS victims may experience a remission (temporary retreat of all symptoms), but eventually the symptoms return, even more severe. Yet there is mounting hope we can curb or even cure this cruel crippler. "New facts, some isolated just now," according to Dr. Harry M. Weaver, consultant for national research programs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, "indicate that we are entering a period of rapid progress." Two major research areas in the war against MS give I Family Weekly, November 17. 1968 Medical Program!, particularly significant clues. Epidemiology; MS is most frequent in cold or damp climates parts of Scandinavia for instance. The Shetland Islands, in the northern seas above Scotland, have the highest .prevalence, twice that of the northern U.S. and Canada, considered areas. Current research aims at finding out why MS is prevalent in cold regions; often once the "why" is learned, the "how" of curing follows. It is known that MS cannot be cured by moving from a cold to a warmer climate; where the patient spent his early years is the deciding factor. There is no proof of hereditary, contagious, or congenital influences. It is believed that a general rundown condition physical or mental will bring on relapses. Triggers seem to include fatigue, overwork, chilling, and colds. The emotional state of the patient has some bearing on the course of MS disabilities. The unique tragedy of MS is that high-prevalen- National Society MulripU g or elaphoria (feeling of is a protective retion) frequently sponse covering severe depression. Such reactions are helpful to the MS patient, though sometimes an added strain to the family. One bride, for instance, spoke of her sick husband's "total lack of reality." He insisted that no wife of his would go back to work; he'd support them by playing the horses. She had to trick him into going to the doctor. A helpful service is the Patient- well-bein- positive mental and emotional attitude is needed in adjusting to MS. there is little hope that a victim achieves a good emotional state. There is an agonizingly long wait for specific symptoms to appear to get a confirmed diagnosis and even then no way of predicting the outcome. As a result, friends and acquaintances often drop away; many marriages break under the strain. The emotional symptom of eu undiag-nosabl- four-stag- transing, interrupted nerve-impulmission, and loss of myelin are three se stages which are potentially revers- ible. Only the final the scarring phase cannot be altered. Concern- ing the possibility of restoring intransmisterrupted sions, he states, "The electron microscope shows that vesicles (which carry energy to and from nerve cells) disappear in the presence of blood that previously blocked impulse transmissions. But if the blood is removed, the vesicles will reappear within a day." Believing that these abnormal blood factors are antibodies which mistakenly attack myelin instead of hostile infection, Dr. Bornstein thinks that MS might be corrected by modifying the defense system through use of an antiserum. The final medical breakthrough against MS may come soon. Research grant applications to the MS Society are at an high; dedicated scientists are closing in on answers in their projects. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the many pieces of the ancient enigma of MS are beginning to form a clearer picture. We just need that final piece. nerve-impul- In this Patient-to-Patie- nt one MS victim teaches an program, art class. Program. There are 63 chapters around the country which enable patients to socialize and help one another find strength. (Headquarters: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 257 Park Ave. South, New York, N.Y. 10010.) Immune Response Theory: Everyone is born with a natural defense against many forms of disease. When attacked by a foreign body (a wound A destructively and not the antibodies. Dr. Rune Stjernhom, biochemist from Cleveland's Western Reserve University, is working on a blood e test to diagnose the almost MS. And, too, there is now laboratory evidence that myelin can be regenerated. Dr. Murray B. Bornstein of New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine now classes MS as a e disease. Functional block- or a germ), this defense system produces special proteins called antibodies especially designed to hook onto any invading germs or viruses and render them harmless. Some researchers are working on the theory that in MS sufferers the body's immune response may go awry. These doctors believe that instead of fending off invading germs, the immunological system inexplicably goes off on a destructive rampage, attacking the very tissue it would normally defend in this case, the myelin sheath. A parallel theory is that the white blood cells (lymphocytes) are acting se all-ti- Family Health Guidance Readers desiring medical guidance on how to handle health emergencies for all the family and on common-typ- e illnesses book, "The may send for an 896-paNew Modem Home Physician." Mail $6.95 plus SSt shipping to F.W. Books, Dept. AW5, Box 707, Grand Central Stution, New York, N.Y. 10017. Complete sets of two anatomical manikins included free. |