Brain and Behavior: Multiple Sclerosis and Myelin Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheath of nerve bers in the central nervous system is attacked by the body's defenses (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2023). The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown, but risk factors that involve sex, age, genetics, ethnic/racial background. and geography have been identied (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2023). As of 2019, approximately a million people in the United States lived with multiple sclerosis (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2023). Myelin is a biological compound made of protein and lipids important in neurotransmission. The neuron has three main parts that are covered with myelin: these are the body of the cell, the axon, and the dendrite (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 2023). The myelin fon-ns a sheath around nerve axons in a spiral fashion and acts as an electrical insulator (Morell & Quarles, 1999). Each cell that generates myelin makes it for only one segment of a particular axon, and there are periodic myelin-free spaces along the axon known as the nodes of Ranvier. These nodes are essential for the ability of myelin to function (Morell & Quarles, 1999). Myelin is formed from cells known as oligodendrocytes that exist in the central nervous system _a_n_ so from Schwann cells that exist in the peripheral nervous system (Cleveland Clinic. 2022). The sheath that myelin forms around the nerve cells acts as a protective membrane and electrical insulator (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Myelin is responsible for protecting the neurons but also impacts the speed at which electrical signals travel through the nerve cells (Cleveland Clinic. 2022). There are three main functions of the myelin sheath in all. First, it is made of fats Page 2 of4 717 words English (United States) Text Predictions: On Accessibilixy: Good to go Clinic. 2022), There are three main functions of the myelin sheath in all. First, it is made of fats and proteins and thus insulates the nerve cell in a protective fashion (Cleveland Clinic. 2022), Second. the myelin sheath helps the nerve cells' electrical impulses move rapidly and efficiently between cells (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Third, the myelin sheath maintains the strength of the electrical impulses and messages as they move along the axon (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). The myelin sheath has myelin-free gaps, as mentioned before that are called nodes of Ranvier. These nodes have positive sodium ions that help the electrical signal move from one node to the next by recharging the signal sent (Cleveland Clinic. 2022), This allows the electrical impulse to continue along its path without reducing the signal's charge or strength (Cleveland Clinic. 2022), If the myelin sheath is damaged, it reduces the speed of the electrical impulse (the message) being sent along the nerve cells, It can even stop the electrical stimulation altogether. stopping the message from arriving where it Was intended, When the myelin sheath is disturbed. as in multiple sclerosis, the signals do not reach the rest of the nerves. Inammation is one of the factors that can damage or destroy myelin, and some drugs can be used to manage the levels of inammation in the body. According to the Cleveland Clinic (2022), it is possible to control the situations that can lead to demyelination. It is also possible for damaged myelin in both the central and peripheral nervous systems to be repaired. Some Inammation is one of the factors that can damage or destroy myelin. and some drugs can be used to manage the levels of inammation in the body. According to the Cleveland Clinic (2022), it is possible to control the situations that can lead to demyelination. It is also possible for damaged myelin in both the central and peripheral nervous systems to be repaired. Some research that has been conducted indicates that medications such as clemastine can help improve the transmission of electrical impulses for people with multiple sclerosis. If clemastine is used in conjunction with metformjn, it can help to regenerate the damaged or destroyed myelin (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). In sum. myelin is a protective sheath around nerve cells that also helps send signals. It is made of protein and fats and exists along a neuron with gaps that help to keep the impulse at its current strength and speed. If the myelin sheath is damaged or destroyed. then the messages between nerve cells cannot be sent and received appropriately. References Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Myelin shear/I. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/healtlv'body/Z2974- myelin-sheath Page 3 of4 717 words I]; English (United States) Text Predictions: On Accessibiliry; Good to go CD: Focus Fe * I + 4 References Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Myelin sheath. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22974- myelin-sheath Morell, P., & Quarles, R.H. (1999). The myelin sheath. In Siegel, G.J., Agranoff, B.W., Albers, R.W., et al., (Eds). Basic neurochemistry: molecular, cellular, and medical aspects. 6th Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2023). Brain basics: The life and death of a neuron. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain- basics/brain-basics-life-and-death- neuron#:~:text=A%20neuron%20has%20three%20basic,contains%20the%20cell's%20ge netic%20material. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (2023). What is MS? https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS Page 4 of 4 717 words English (United States) Text Predictions: On Accessibility: Good to go Focus + 100%