Women are at least twice as likely to develop MS, with a wide age range for susceptibility -- usually between 20 and 50. Caucasians of Northern European descent also have a greater chance of developing the disease.

SEEK HELP FOR THESE SYMPTOMS:

* Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs, usually one side at a time

* Partial or total vision impairment, typically one eye at a time

* Pain or tingling in part of the body

* Muscle spasms and difficulty moving

* Coordination or balance problems

* Issues with speaking or swallowing

* Frequent urge to urinate 

TREATMENT:

MS is now incurable. Treatment is confined to managing symptoms and slowing the advance of the disease. Overall, physical therapy allows people with MS to move more easily, as do muscle relaxants like baclofen. Corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone, are used to lower inflammation of the nerves. Plasmapheresis -- plasma exchange -- may also be required. This replaces faulty antibodies with fresh ones. In cases of primary progressive MS, treatment with the antibody ocrelizumab is used to slow its advance.

* A wide-ranging unpredictable disease, MS causes not only physical problems, but also mental and psychiatric ones.