Types of Multiple Sclerosis

What’s your type?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an autoimmune, inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.

The cause remains unknown, but some studies Trusted Source indicate a link between the Epstein Barr Virus, while others Trusted Source indicate environmental factors, a lack of vitamin D, or parasites as a stimulus of the persistent immune response in the central nervous system. It can be unpredictable and, in some cases, disabling. But not all forms of MS are the same.

To help distinguish between the different types of the condition, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) identified four distinct categories.

Four forms

To accurately define the different forms of MS, in 1996, the NMSS surveyed a group of scientists who specialized in MS patient care and research. After analyzing the scientists’ responses, the organization categorized the condition into four primary types.