MCALPINE´S MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple sclerosis was first described about 160 years ago by Jean Martin Charcot. Since then, it has become one of the most common conditions faced by clinical neurologists and one of the most intriguing puzzles for neuroscientists. Multiple sclerosis is a relatively frequent disease in Western countries, mainly affecting young people and causing, in many of them, severe and irreversible disability during the 10 to 15 years after onset. Despite its frequency, the causes and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis remain uncertain, our understanding of its natural evolution is still in its infancy, and our ability to alter its course is limited.