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In Unit 6, we learned how our nervous system can do an outstanding job of enabling us to perform our day-to-day tasks from simply sitting to the more extreme activities of sports. Neurons are specialized cells that serve as the building blocks of our nervous system able to transmit both chemical and electrical signals in our body. These signals are called action potential or AP for short. The generation of action potentials has four main steps; the first is the resting state where the sodium and potassium ion gates are all closed, the second is the depolarization where sodium protein channels open, the third is repolarization in which sodium protein channels close and oppositely potassium channels open, and lastly, hyperpolarization, where some potassium channels remain open, while sodium channels resets (Unit 6 pg. 17-20). Protective covering around the neuron’s axon branch called the myelin sheath allows action potentials to jump from one opening to another, skipping some, enabling faster transmission of AP. These protective coverings act just like how insulators are wrapped around electric wires to prevent electrical current from spilling to places that they should not be in (Unit 6 pg. 27).
This STEAM Project will delve into a nervous disorder called Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disorder in which our own immune system attacks and destroys the protective layer of our neurons, the myelin sheath. This chronic inflammatory disease is characterized by permanent scaring or lesions in the central nervous systems that in turn, lead to slower AP transmission, severe physical and cognitive impairment as well as many neurological defects. Multiple areas in the central nervous system are affected by inflammation caused by the infiltration of immune cells such as the T-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that is in charge of producing specific antibodies used to mark off pathogens (Tamang & Paing, 2022)) and Macrophages (specialized cells involved in phagocytosis, detection, and destruction of pathogens (Tamang & Paing, 2022)). During this attack, oligodendrocytes, cells involved in the nervous system that specializes in the production and maintenance of myelin sheaths die. This results in the demyelination process, resulting in the inefficient transmission of nerve impulses, compromised CNS activity, and the formation of lesions in the CNS that appear like scars, hence the name multiple sclerosis, multiple scars (Ghasemi & Nikzad, 2017).
Generally, Multiple Sclerosis is detected in patients ages 20-40 years old and more commonly in females compared to males. The disorder is also associated with people with Vitamin D deficiency and areas with low sunlight needed to produce Vitamin D. Patients with white ethnic backgrounds, and patients that live in the northern hemisphere are more susceptible to the disease compared to Native Americans, Africans, Asians, and individuals living closer to the equator with more sunlight. Finally, the general population’s probability of acquiring MS is 0.5%, increasing if the patient is directly related to another individual with diagnosed MS, is a smoker, has an autoimmune disease, Pernicious Anemia, Psoriasis, Type I Diabetes, and inflammatory bowels (Ghasemi & Nikzad, 2017).
Symptoms of MS include relapses in 24-48 hours that last for a few days or even weeks. These relapses then improve to a recovery of 80-100%. Relapses include blurred vision with associated pain, extremity and torso impaired sensation, abdominal and chest banding, sensory loss or defect, spasms, fatigue, depression, incontinence issues, sexual dysfunctions, and walking difficulties (McGinley, Goldschmidt & Rae-Grant, 2021).
There is no single test that can diagnose MS. However, specialists use four key features in order to determine the possibility of developing this disorder. These are, first by comparing the consistency of the typical symptoms. Second, are there physical examinations consistent with MS PE results? Third, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine. Lastly, a test of spinal fluid, whether it is consistent with MS. When diagnosed, specialists can prescribe corticosteroids to relieve the symptoms, plasmapheresis or plasma exchange, and other therapeutic treatments. However, there is no straightforward cure. (McGinley, Goldschmidt & Rae-Grant, 2021).
Multiple Sclerosis causes is such a scary phenomenon. Learning what it is and how it
work helps us learn, spread awareness, and help people who are currently in battle with it.
Ghasemi, N., Razavi, S., & Nikzad, E. (2017). Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy. Cell journal, 19(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2016.4867
McGinley, M. P., Goldschmidt, C. H., & Rae-Grant, A. D. (2021). Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA, 325(8), 765–779. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.26858
Tamang, T., Baral, S., & Paing, M. P. (2022). Classification of White Blood Cells: A Comprehensive Study Using Transfer Learning Based on Convolutional Neural Networks. Diagnostics, 12(12), 2903. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12122903
