MS Questions #2

I also asked Dr Kipp the following;

The progression of MS is described as unique and different for every MS sufferer; almost random. Yet there seems to be a set group of symptoms MS patients suffer from, and, a set group of symptoms MS sufferers don't suffer from. Does MS affect specific areas of the brain?

His answer [again] was a qualified yes. MS does seem to affect certain areas of the brain more than others, however you can probably find a MS patient with lesions in any particular area of the brain.

I also asked;

Lesions show up in MRI's as grey, so as I age will subsequent MRI's show a 'greying' brain, as lesions appear  randomly throughout my brain?

His answer [was a kind of scary] no. New lesions may appear, but generally the current lesions will show up darker and darker as cells die.


[my summation] So, it appears MS has an affinity for certain areas of the brain, and continues to attack those areas throughout the course of the disease.

The cause of the disease is like a glutton at a buffet. It will eat anything, but prefers the dessert tray.

MS Questions

Actually, the best part of the last MS checkup was getting some questions that have puzzled me since day one cleared up.

MS is always described as a disease in which the insulating myelin covers of nerve cells are damaged. Yet, the main diagnostic tool used is an MRI of the brain. I asked Dr. Kipp the following questions:

Are nerve cells and brain cells the same?
Do all nerve cells have myelin sheaths?
Do you get sclerosis on nerve cells throughout the body?

His answer was a qualified no, nerve cells and brain cells are not the same. I my words, it would seem there is a sliding scale of change. Most [but not all] nerve cells outside the brain and spinal cord do not have myelin sheaths, and consequently do not get lesions.

The name multiple sclerosis refers to scars (sclerae—better known as plaques or lesions) in particular in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. [from wikipedia]

So I asked, is describing MS as a nerve cell de-myelining disease a misnomer? Should it not be described as a brain cell de-myelining disease?
His answer was again qualified; a qualified yes. Yes, it is a more a brain cell de-myelining disease, except it also affects cells in the brain stem and spinal cord, [where the brain attaches??].

Because MS affects cells in the brain, the blood brain barrier [BBB] becomes significant. [my question]Is MS a result of a failure or compromise of the BBB?

Annual MS checkup

I went for my annual MS checkup last Monday.  My neurologist is Dr. Virgina Devonshire, but I mainly saw a new Doctor, Dr. Kipp. He is a young new neurologist who 'may' join the UBC MS Clinic. In the mean time, however, in general conversation [and because I'm nosy] he told me he was going to London, England, for about a year, to get more training. I hope he comes back to the UBC MS clinic, I liked him.

So, the check up. Basically the MS is slowly advancing, I'm getting marginally weaker, and life goes on. We will keep doing the copaxone and hope for the best.

Ya, well, I saw Dr. Patricia Mills on that Tuesday back in April. She was 'politely interested' in my research idea but not too encouraging. Any kind of research is expensive and requires backers with deep pockets she said.

Guess I'll need to figure out how to raise some money.

I see my MS Dr., next week.