Demyelinating Disease
demyelinating disease is any disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged.This impairs the conduction of signals in the affected nerves, causing impairment in sensation, movement, cognition, or other functions depending on which nerves are involved.
What causes Demyelinating disease
some demyelinating diseases are caused by genetics, some by infectious agents, some by autoimmune reactions, and some by unknown factors. Organophosphates (a chemical classified as very highly acutely toxic to bees, wildlife, and humans) which is active ingredients in commercial insecticides such as sheep dip, weed-killers, and flea treatment preparations for pets, etc., will also demyelinate nerves.
Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system
Multiple sclerosis – is the most common demyelinating disease. In this disorder, your immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerve fibers that it surrounds, and may result in multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis).
Vitamin B12 deficiency – was discovered from its relationship to the disease pernicious anemia, which is an autoimmune disease that destroys parietal cells in the stomach that secrete intrinsic factor.
Tabes Dorsalis – is a slow degeneration of the sensory neurons that carry afferent information. The degenerating nerves are in the dorsal columns (posterior columns) of the spinal cord (the portion closest to the back of the body) and carry information that help maintain a person’s sense of position (proprioception), vibration, and discriminative touch.
Transverse Myelitis – is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammatory process of the spinal cord, and can cause axonal demyelination. The name is derived from Greek myelón referring to the “spinal cord”, and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation.
Devic’s disease – also known as Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) – is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person’s own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) - also known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis, is a rare and usually fatal viral disease that is characterized by progressive damage (-pathy) or inflammation of the white matter (leuko-) of the brain (-encephalo-) at multiple locations (multifocal).
Optic Neuritis – the inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision.
Leukodystrophies – refers to a group of disorders characterized by dysfunction of the white matter of the brain
Treatment
No cures exist for demyelinating diseases and their progression, and symptoms are different for everyone. Getting treatment early is important. Treatment focuses on:
Minimizing the effects of the attacks
Modifying the course of the disease
Managing the symptoms
Various drug therapies are suggested determined by your particular disorder. These could include medications that decrease the frequency of new lesion formation. Ways of treat symptoms include physical therapy, muscle relaxing drugs, and medications to reduce pain and fatigue. Seek for best route of treatment from your doctor for any specific disorder.
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