Quick Facts About MS

MS is a chronic disease of the Central Nervous System.

MS means, literally, "many scars."

The cause of MS is unknown. It could be a virus, an auto-immune reaction, or a combination.

MS is not preventable or curable (YET!).

MS is NOT contagious.

MS is NOT congenital, but there are some hereditary factors.

MS usually strikes people when they are age 20-40.

More women than men get MS.

The occurrence of MS is highest in temperate zones (such as New Zealand and northern Europe).

Even in high-risk areas, MS rarely strikes certain racial groups (e.g. Maori and Polynesians, native Americans, black South Africans).

The name Multiple Sclerosis was first applied to the disease in 1868 (by Charcot in France).

Most people with MS lead a fairly normal life, most of the time.

Symptoms of MS usually appear, and disappear unpredictably.

People with MS need to get adequate rest to reduce fatigue.

Material on this website may be reproduced with attribution to www.msakl.org.nz, except where other copyright is noted.