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Myelin Sheath Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms and More

CNS Demyelinating Disease

This category of disease includes disorders such as:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS): MS is the most popular type of demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and it is seen in about 1 million people in the United States.
  • Optic neuritis: Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerves. It affects about half of all people with MS.
  • Transverse myelitis: Transverse myelitis is inflammation of both sides of a section of the spinal cord. About 1,400 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, with about 33,000 people experiencing symptoms or disability as a result of this condition.
  • Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM): ADEM is a severe bout of inflammation in which swelling damages the myelin on cells in the brain, spinal cord, and sometimes the optic nerves.
  • Neuromyelitis optica (NMO): Neuromyelitis optica affects the eyes and the spinal cord first, and eventually also may affect the brain. Also known as Devic’s disease, it’s a rare disease that affects only about 4,000 people in the United States.
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy: Three different kinds of adrenoleukodystrophy exist: childhood cerebral ALD, adrenomyelopathy, and Addison’s disease. It affects about 1 in every 20,000 to 50,000 people.