Multiple Sclerosis Center

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. In MS, the body attacks myelin, the protective substance coating millions of nerve fibers. When the myelin or nerve fiber is damaged, nerve impulses traveling to and from the brain and spinal cord are distorted.

The symptoms of MS are variable and unpredictable. They can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Problems with fatigue, bladder, bowel, or sexual function are common. The progression and severity of MS varies from person to person.

The Multiple Sclerosis Center at UC San Diego Neurological Institute is led by Jody Corey-Bloom, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized neurologist. The center’s priority is the people it serves. People diagnosed with MS and their families face years of unknowns. Loss of cognition or vision, reduced mobility, and emotional changes, among many other symptoms, are life-altering, multidimensional challenges. In response to these challenges, the Multiple Sclerosis Center works as a multidisciplinary team with physical therapists, psychiatrists, mobility experts, and others to provide complete care to people with MS. 

Research

People with MS have access through the center to leading edge research in the development of new therapies. Current research includes a placebo-controlled clinical study of the effectiveness of marijuana to relieve the muscle pain and rigidity associated with MS. Find out more about research and clinical trials, and how you can participate. 

Links

Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis
A national nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the cure of MS by facilitating research that determines the causes and mechanisms of MS.

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
National nonprofit providing support and direct services to individuals with MS and the people close to them.

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
Provides programs to help people with MS stay self-sufficient and their homes safe. The organization heightens public awareness and promotes understanding about the disease.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National nonprofit health agency dedicated to research, support and advocacy for people with MS.

Multiple Sclerosis National Research Institute
A division of Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies focused on MS research.