Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the nervous system, affecting about 1 million people worldwide. Even though it has been known for over a hundred years, no cause or cure has yet been discovered-but now there is hope. New therapies have been shown to slow the disease progress in some patients, and the pace of discoveries about the cellular machinery of the brain and spinal cord has accelerated. This book presents a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis today, as researchers seek to understand its processes, develop therapies that will slow or halt the disease and perhaps repair damage, offer relief for specific symptoms, and improve the abilities of MS patients to function in their daily lives. The panel reviews existing knowledge and identifies key research questions, focusing on: Research strategies that have the greatest potential to understand the biological mechanisms of recovery and to translate findings into specific strategies for therapy. How people adapt to MS and the research needed to improve the lives of people with MS. Management of disease symptoms (cognitive impairment, depression, spasticity, vision problems, and others). The committee also discusses ways to build and financially support the MS research enterprise, including a look at challenges inherent in designing clinical trials. This book will be important to MS researchers, research funders, health care advocates for MS research and treatment, and interested patients and their families.

Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease won a 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Silver Medal! The basic facts about multiple sclerosis are well known: it is the most common neurologic disease of young adults, usually beginning with episodic attacks of neurologic symptoms, then entering a progressive phase some years later. Its onset has an average age of 30, and occurs in about 1 in 500 individuals of European ancestry living primarily in temperate climates. There appears to be a complex interaction between a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger that initiates the disease. But these facts do not convey the impact of the disease on the people whose lives it affects. In this elegantly written and comprehensive history, we meet individuals who suffered with MS in the centuries before the disease had a name, including blessed Lidwina of Holland, who took joy from her misery, believing that she was sent to accept suffering for the sins of others; Augustus d'Est, grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria, whose case shows how someone with access to the best of medical care of the age was understood and managed; and Heinrich Heine, the great German poet, who also had access to all medical services that were available, but who progressed into his mattress grave in two decades, aware of the loss of physical ability while still able to compose great poetry to the end. From these early cases the author demonstrates how progress in diagnosing and managing multiple sclerosis has paralleled the development of medical science, from the early developments in modern studies of anatomy and pathology, to the framing of the disease in the nineteenth century, and eventually to modern diagnosis and treatment. From beginning to end, Dr. Murray takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery, in the process showing how the evolution of our understanding of multiple sclerosis has been part of the greater history of medical knowledge.

Two-and-a-half million people world-wide and 400,000 Americans suffer from the chronic disease multiple sclerosis. Understanding Multiple Sclerosis presents both general information about MS and valuable, specific advice. Who gets MS? What are its symptoms? What are its effects on the bodies and minds of people afflicted? How does one plan for the future after a diagnosis? From basic biology to new advances in treatment, Understanding Multiple Sclerosis covers the topics most relevant to people with MS and to their families and friends. Chapters provide an introduction to genetic, demographic, and geographic factors; basic biology of MS, with descriptions of both the central nervous system and the immune system; characteristic symptoms of MS; diagnostic criteria and different types of MS treatments, over-the-counter medications, and alternative medicines; lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, along with advice on long-term health insurance and financial planning; and current and ongoing MS research and advances.

The words "You have multiple sclerosis" can be very frightening. There is no cure, symptoms are potentially debilitating, and there is no way to prevent it. While a diagnosis often requires ongoing lifestyle adjustments, with the proper treatment it is possible to have a fulfilling life. Understanding the condition and treatment options are the first steps to advocating for yourself or your loved ones living with MS. In MS Made Simple, Dr. Mitzi J. Williams, a neurologist and MS specialist, shares her expert knowledge of the disease. She explains basic concepts including what MS does to the body, how it's diagnosed, and what to expect over the course of the disease. She also covers topics including MS in African Americans, the importance of research participation, and the need for collaboration with your healthcare team to continue the work toward seeing a world free of MS.

Autoimmune Neurology presents the latest information on autoimmune neurologic disease, the immune response to the body where organs run wild, causing the immune system to attack itself. Autoimmunity is a main element in numerous nervous system diseases and can target any structure within the central or peripheral nervous system. Over the past 20 years, significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders, including the use of biomarkers has led to new diagnosis and treatment options. Neurologic conditions associated with autoimmune reactions include dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, sleep disorders, diabetes, and other common neurologic disorders and disease. This current tutorial-reference will be a must-have title for clinical neurologists, research neurologists, neuroscientists, and any medical professional working with autoimmune disease and disorders. - Includes comprehensive coverage of autoimmune neurology - Details the latest techniques for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders, including dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, and sleep disorders - Presents a focused reference for clinical practitioners and the clinical neurology and neurology research communities

New edition, completely rewritten, with new chapters on endovascular surgery and mitochrondrial and ion channel disorders.