Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system that can cause symptoms throughout the body ranging from difficulty walking to bladder dysfunction to changes in memory and thinking abilities. MS is believed to be an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that normally protects nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. As the myelin sheath is gradually destroyed, the resulting scar tissue (sclerosis) disrupts the electrical impulses between the brain and other parts of the body. It's not clear what causes the onset of this immune reaction, although recent research points to infection with the Epstein-Barr virus as a likely trigger. And while there are treatments that can slow the progression of MS, there is no cure.

According to research published in the medical journal Neurology in March 2019, the number of Americans living with MS is estimated at one million. To raise awareness of the disease, a number of societies and advocacy groups have named March Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. It's a time to bring attention to the current state of research on MS, including new ways to diagnose and treat the condition. Throughout March, you may see orange ribbons adorned with a butterfly symbol. Orange is the official color for MS awareness and the butterfly represents the shape commonly seen on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a brain of a person with MS. (Everyday.com, 2023)

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