What is multiple sclerosis characterized by?

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. In this autoimmune condition, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerve fibers. This damage disrupts the normal flow of electrical impulses along the nerves, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms, including muscle weakness, vision problems, coordination difficulties, and cognitive changes. By understanding the significance of demyelination, one can appreciate how it impacts communication between neurons, resulting in the various manifestations of this disease.

The other options do not accurately describe multiple sclerosis. Excessive neuron growth is not a characteristic of this condition; it usually involves degeneration rather than growth. Bone spurs in the vertebrae pertain to a different condition, often related to aging or degeneration of the spine, and are not related to the mechanisms of multiple sclerosis. Total loss of nerve function is also not characteristic of multiple sclerosis, as the disease can lead to varying degrees of impairment but does not result in the complete loss of nerve function in all cases.