Popular hypothesis concerning the emergence of multiple sclerosis disputed

During an autoimmune disease, the endogenous defence system (the immune system) loses the ability to distinguish between 'self' and 'foreign.' As a consequence, the immune system directs its defence against itself, with fatal consequences. In the case of multiple sclerosis, a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the protective layer encapsulating the nerve fibres: This protective layer formed by myelin works like insulation for electrical cables. If the insulation is damaged, the nerves can no longer transmit messages effectively...

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