Q1 - Is MS a neurodegenerative disease?
Think carefully before you answer that, because the next question is:
Q2 - and if it is, why is the MS Society not part of the Dementias & Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN), which is a National Institute for Health Research initiative?
A visit to the DeNDRoN website http://www.dendron.org.uk/ could be very informative.
Geoff
I didn't think MS was classed as neurodegenerative. No idea why not though.
Karen x
OK. What prompted me to ask is that:
a) I found out about DeNDRoN in the newsletter from my wife's local Parkinsons branch.
b) She and I have something like 60% commonality of symptoms.
But, we know that Parkinsons is caused by the failure of a gland to produce enough Dopamine (which has a function as a neuro-transmitter chemical), so it is not actually a neuro-degenerative thing in the true sense. I don't quite know where that leaves me, since my MS is down to inflammation inside the spine doing nasty things to the myelin sheath (which is as much part of the nervous system as the insulator around an electric cable).
If you follow that particular chain of logic, my MS Hug is a symptom of my MS, but my MS is a symptom of the imflammation. And, if it is getting worse (which it is) then my condition is degenerating. Which comes back to the first question that I posed.
Geoff
No it isn't.
Neurodegenertive diseases include, Alzheimer's, Parkinsons and Huntingtons.
I guess that's why The MS Society are not involved.
[quote=“Rebecca85”] I wish we could edit our comments, I’ve just read back and it’s as clear as mud! MS is degenerative in the usual sense of the word, as it is a condition that can be expected to worsen with time.
However, when the scientists call some thing degenerative, they mean consistently worsening without hope of getting better.
So the fact that you can have relapsing remitting MS with some sort of repair between relapses means that it isn’t scientifically degenerative. [/quote]
Yes, Rebecca, I wish we could edit our posts as well.
Other fora provide preview function and the ability to edit just once (within 20 minutes of posting), so why can’t we?
Nothing wrong with a Psychology degree - several of us here have one (or more).
Actually, very little dopamine is made at the synapses, or in neurons; much more comes from the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area. Both of these are discrete structures that sit above the brainstem - my calling them “glands” may not be quite correct, but they behave like glands.
So, maybe RRMS is not degenerative in the strict use of the term, but what about the two progressives" PPMS and SPMS?
Geoff
I think there is a slight link, my paternal granddad had Parkinson’s and my mum had R/Arthritis. Tina tells me that there are genes from both diseases probably make up my MS.
What I’m saying is, although completely different diseases, they do have a lot in common, including symptoms.
MS is a degenerative autoimmune disease any way.
Wendy
x
what i think is neuro degenerative is the brain get more disaesed,but with MS it is not the brain that gets worse ,just the person,as my doc said ,evrything is in working order,just the signals ddont go to right place at right time
Hi Geoff, ooo aren`t we an interesting bunch?
Did you see my post on PPMS, about how that numpty neuro said i can`t have PPMS, as I would be too addled to hold an intelligent conversation!
He should take a look at this particular thread, eh?
Numpty indeed!
luv Pollx
1. Yes
2. [Very filtered very Germanic word]]
Wb
Actually, Rebecca, I guess it is more likely down to where you did your degree. Some Unis are biased toward certain areas of Psychology, and only do enough in others to get the course approved (or to get British Psychological Society approval).
Even with the VTA (ventral tegmental area) there is still some research going on into which area within the VTA does what. The evidence does suggest that at least two different sub areas do different things with regard to Dopamine production.
Geoff