MS Multiple Sclerosis
Evaluation & Diagnosis
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering that surrounds the nerves of the central nervous system (CNS). This protective covering is called the myelin sheath. When nerves are no longer protected by myelin sheath, they are demyelinated. The myelin sheath is important because it helps nerves communicate with each other quickly and efficiently. Demyelinated nerves lose their ability to communicate with each other. Your brain is a bundle of millions of CNS nerves. Therefore, the MS disease process can directly impact your brain’s ability to quickly and efficiently communicate with other parts of the body and can also reduce the speed with which it is able to process and learn new information.
What are the signs of multiple sclerosis?
Not everyone who has MS experiences changes in their thinking abilities. Scientists currently estimate that 40-65% of people with MS experience cognitive changes that are secondary to the MS disease process. The most commonly noted changes are:
- Slowed information processing, and
- Slowed learning and memory.
Sometimes, these changes are not due to the MS process itself, but may be attributed to increased feelings of frustration, fatigue, or the onset of symptoms of depression and anxiety, that understandably arise when someone is coping with the effects of MS on their body.
What is the treatment for multiple sclerosis?
As neuropsychologists, we cannot treat MS. However, in collaboration with your physicians and with you, we can work together to help you maintain the best possible cognitive and emotional functioning given your unique circumstances. It is common for individuals who are coping with MS and experiencing changes in both physical abilities and thinking abilities to also experience significant levels of frustration, symptoms of depression, or anxiety.
Thomson’s cognitive rehabilitation therapists can partner with you to learn memory and organizational strategies that will help you achieve your potential. Our therapists are skilled in addressing the impact of MS on your psychological health so that feelings of frustration, depression, or anxious worry do not worsen your cognitive difficulties. We will always encourage you to consult with your physician to determine whether a pharmaceutical intervention would be appropriate for your individual case.