multiple sclerosis

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic degenerative, often episodic disease of the central nervous system marked by patchy destruction of the myelin that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, usually appearing in young adulthood and manifested by one or more mild to severe neural and muscular impairments, as spastic weakness in one or more limbs, local sensory losses, bladder dysfunction, or visual disturbances.

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multiple sclerosis British  

noun

1. Also called: disseminated sclerosis.  a chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system characterized by loss of some of the myelin sheath surrounding certain nerve fibres and resulting in speech and visual disorders, tremor, muscular incoordination, partial paralysis, etc

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multiple sclerosis Scientific  

/ sklə-rō′sĭs /

1. A chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in the brain or spinal cord or both, interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances. It occurs chiefly in young adults and is thought to be caused by a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.

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multiple sclerosis Cultural  

1. A chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by the hardening of patches of tissue in the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this disease has to do with damage to the sheathes of nerves, and there is no specific treatment. It occurs in varying degrees of severity and, in the worst case, can result in permanent paralysis.

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Etymology

Origin of multiple sclerosis

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The research paper is titled "Decreased mitochondrial activity in the demyelinating cerebellum of progressive multiple sclerosis and chronic EAE contributes to Purkinje cell loss."

From Science Daily

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 27, she - and often Teddy - appeared in five Paralympic Games, winning 10 medals, including six golds.

From BBC

I have multiple sclerosis and use my own wheelchair when traveling.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tom Youngs: Former Cambridge United, Northampton Town and Bury player died from complications from multiple sclerosis.

From BBC

The French pharmaceutical company expects the FDA to delay a decision on tolebrutinib as a treatment for nonrelapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

From The Wall Street Journal