Neurology and Immunology

Approximately one in 400 Canadians live with MS1. Every one of those people has a community of family, carers and even other patients sharing in the experience of living with a degenerative disease.

We work with the people who experience it first-hand every day to better understand the emotional and practical impacts of MS. As we further our research, develop medications and help raise awareness, we do so in direct response to what we learn.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The disease attacks myelin sheath, the protective covering around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and other damages¹. These damages can cause a disruption in communication from the brain to the nerve cells, affecting one’s ability to perform basic functions like speaking, seeing and walking.²

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with one in every 400 people living with the disease.³ MS is most often diagnosed in young adults aged 15-40, but children and older adults can also be diagnosed with the disease.⁴

The effects of MS can be physical, emotional and financial. Physical symptoms can include extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensations, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.⁵    

There is currently no cure to MS, but every day, researchers are learning more about what causes the disease and are zeroing in on ways to prevent it.⁶

1. MS Society of Canada. What is MS. Accessed May 7, 2018. Available here. 
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