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How Much Do You Know About Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system, the brain, and spinal cord. Its symptoms can range from mild to severe. Find out more about this illness by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

1. About how many people in the U.S. have MS?

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In 2010, most experts estimated that 300,000 to 400,000 Americans had MS. By 2017, that number had more than doubled, to more 900,000.

A. 100,000B. 150,000C. 300,000D. 900,000

2. MS affects the central nervous system (CNS). Which part of the CNS is usually attacked?

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Myelin is the fatty covering that protects the nerve cell fibers in the brain and spinal cord. MS can damage the neurons, but it mostly attacks myelin. Myelin is important because it keeps messages flowing between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. When MS destroys the myelin, these messages may be slowed or even completely blocked. "Sclerosis" comes from the Greek word for "scarring" or "hardening" of the patchy areas of the CNS where the myelin has been destroyed.

A. Nerve cells (neurons)B. MyelinC. PlaquesD. Vertebrae

3. Which age group is MS most likely to strike?

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Women develop MS nearly twice as often as do men. Whites are more than twice as likely to develop MS as are other racial groups. People who live in temperate climates are more than 5 times as likely to develop MS as are people who live in tropical areas.

A. Children under 12B. TeensC. Adults ages 20 to 40D. Adults ages 65 and older

4. Although the exact cause of MS is not yet known, which factor may play a role?

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MS is considered an autoimmune disease. This means the body's immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Because MS is so much more common in temperate climates than in tropical ones, researchers think the environment may have an effect. Some researchers guess that there may be something protective that people in the tropics are able to acquire. Viruses also may play a role in MS. MS often grows worse after an acute viral illness, the NINDS says. Genes may also play a role. The risk of developing MS also goes up a bit if a family member has the disease.

A. EnvironmentB. VirusesC. Family historyD. All of the above

5. How does the disease usually progress?

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There are different forms of MS. All forms can lead to paralysis.

Relapsing-remitting MS. The disease begins with a series of attacks, with periods of remissions that last 1 to 2 months. This is the most common form of MS.
Primary-progressive MS. The person's function gradually gets worse, with no remissions, the NINDS says.
Secondary-progressive MS. This forms begins with relapses and remissions and then becomes progressive. This affects about half of those with relapse-remitting MS.
Progressive-relapsing MS. This is progressive, with acute attacks. It is rare.

About 1 in 5 people with MS have a mild form of the disease that does not get worse.

A. In a series of attacks and remissionsB. In a gradual decline of function with no remissionC. The disease does not get worseD. All of the above

6. A person with MS who wants to have children should be aware that her disease may affect her pregnancy in what way?

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Researchers think that this temporary remission is related to changes in a person's immune system during pregnancy. Up to 2 in 5 people with MS have a relapse of symptoms within 3 months of delivery. People with MS who are planning a family should talk with their healthcare provider about medicines they use for MS. Certain medicines should not be taken during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. These medicines may cause birth defects. Check with your doctor for a list of these drugs.

A. A miscarriage is more likelyB. Labor and delivery may be more riskyC. The baby may develop birth defectsD. MS symptoms may ease or fade away late in pregnancy but may get worse after childbirth

7. What are some of the symptoms of MS?

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Eye problems linked to MS also include red-green color distortion and blindness in one eye, the NINDS says. These eye problems tend to ease in later stages of MS. Muscle weakness can be so severe that the person has problems walking or standing. Other symptoms include numbness, prickling, speech problems, tremors, dizziness, loss of bowel or bladder control, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and sometimes hearing loss.

A. Blurred or double visionB. Muscle weakness or partial paralysisC. Tiredness (fatigue)D. All of the above

8. If symptoms and a physical exam suggest MS, how does a healthcare provider confirm it?

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MRI is an imaging test that uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to make pictures of internal body structures. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is used to test the cerebrospinal fluid for signs of MS. These tests can help find plaques in the brain that may mean MS. Visual evoked potential tests measure the speed of the brain's response to various visual signals. These tests may find lesions and plaques that the scanning techniques may have missed, the NINDS says. No single lab test can diagnose MS.

A. MRIB. Spinal tapC. Visual evoked potential (VEP) testsD. All of the above

9. Which therapy is often recommended for treating slowly progressing MS?

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Corticosteroids and the hormone ACTH are given to people with an acute attack of MS. Those with slowly progressing MS don't always do better if they take these medicines daily. Newer medicines have been developed that can modify the effects of MS. Healthcare providers will tailor their advice for treatment based on the person’s situation. There is no cure for MS.

A. Corticosteroids such as prednisoneB. The hormone ACTHC. AntibioticsD. A and BE. None of the above

10. Which of these so-called therapies is not recommended for MS?

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Many quack cures have emerged for MS over the years. None of the "cures" on the list work. Some may be dangerous. Other so-called treatments include electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, removal of the thymus gland, and beef heart and pig pancreas extracts, the NINDS says.

A. Snake venomB. Hyperbaric oxygenC. HysterectomyD. Removal of dental fillings that contain mercuryE. Calcium orotateF. All of the above

Your score was:

Online Medical Reviewer: Campellone, Joseph, MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Fetterman, Anne RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Turley, Raymond Kent, BSN, MSN, RN

Date Last Reviewed: 9/1/2022

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