In all of our brains there are a network of neurons that link mind to body. These neurons can be thought of as electrical wires, conducting signals back and forth, allowing us to move our muscles, to feel pain, to see, experience and interact with the world around us.

Electrical wires carry signals efficiently only because they have an insulating layer that keeps the signal from leaking out. The neurons in our brains have a similar insulating layer known as myelin, allowing signals to be transmitted effectively throughout the central nervous system. In MS, it is this myelin sheath that is damaged by the body’s own immune system, causing a loss of signal which results in the variety of symptoms experienced by sufferers.  Imagine a house full of faulty electrical goods, all operating below their proper efficiency due to damaged cables.

Some of the many symptoms associated with MS include loss of vision, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, loss of sensation, pain, incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Many patients also experience an effect known as Uhthoff's phenomenon, whereby the severity of symptoms is worsened by changes in temperature. It is also common for sufferers to develop speech and cognitive impairments and experience depression. 

Although MS is one of the most common disabling neurological conditions amongst young adults, very little is known about the cause of the disease and there is currently no cure. The MS Society helps those affected to come to terms with the condition and to face the uncertain future that comes with MS. Along with funding research to find the cause and to develop viable treatments, they also provide an authoritative source of information about the disease.

The founding principle of the MS Society has always been to allow those affected by MS to live a life of independence and dignity until such a time that a cure is found, whether it be the sufferers themselves or the families, friends and carers who dedicate their lives to loved ones with the disease.