Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Disease, Improving Daily Life, and Discovering Innovative Aids

Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Disease and Living Better with it Daily

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system primarily affecting the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized by the formation of demyelinating plaques, meaning the destruction of the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers. This damage slows down the conduction of nerve signals and can cause a wide variety of motor, sensory, visual, or cognitive symptoms.

In Belgium, the prevalence of MS is estimated at approximately 13,500 people. The disease primarily affects young adults, between 20 and 40 years old, and affects approximately three times more women than men. Even though the disease’s progression varies for each individual, a multidisciplinary approach, combining medical follow-up, rehabilitation, and psychological support, helps preserve autonomy and improve patients’ quality of life.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, leading to the appearance of plaques in the brain and spinal cord. These lesions disrupt nerve conduction and explain the characteristic symptoms of the disease.

The Different Forms of MS

• Relapsing-remitting form: characterized by relapses followed by periods of remission.
• Progressive form: symptoms slowly and steadily worsen, with or without relapses.

The frequency of relapses and the intensity of symptoms vary among individuals, making each journey unique.

Causes and Mechanisms of the Disease

Risk factors include genetic predisposition, certain viral infections, and environmental factors such as vitamin D deficiency or smoking. The disease causes inflammation and demyelination of nerve cells, forming plaques that disrupt the speed of signal conduction in the central nervous system.

Scientific research shows that macrophages and other immune cells play a key role in myelin destruction, thereby contributing to the progressive degeneration of certain motor or cognitive functions.

Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sometimes biological analyses. In Belgium, healthcare networks specializing in MS provide adapted follow-up and early management to slow the progression of disability.

The Most Frequent Symptoms

The symptoms of MS are varied:

• Chronic fatigue
• Motor disorders: weakness, gait disturbances, imbalance
• Visual disturbances: blurred or double vision
• Neuropathic pain
• Spasticity and muscle stiffness
• Cognitive and memory disorders
• Urinary and digestive disorders
• Increased risk of depression

Early diagnosis allows for adapted management, limiting consequences, and improving quality of life.

What are the Current Treatments?

There is no curative treatment, but several strategies can slow the progression of disability and relieve symptoms.

Medication and Medical Follow-up

• Disease-modifying treatments: immunomodulators or immunosuppressants to reduce the frequency of relapses and limit the formation of new plaques.
• Symptomatic treatments: to manage spasticity, fatigue, pain, or urinary disorders.

Regular follow-up, including neurological consultations and MRI assessments, helps monitor the disease’s progression.

Rehabilitation and Support

Rehabilitation is essential for maintaining mobility and autonomy: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy help to:

• Preserve muscle strength and coordination
• Improve coordination, posture, and gait fluidity to limit mobility loss
• Reduce fatigue and improve quality of life

Psychological support helps patients manage the emotional impacts of the disease and promotes functional recovery.

How to Improve Daily Autonomy?

Adapt Your Environment

To limit fatigue and prevent falls:

• Install grab bars and adapted seating
• Optimize living spaces for movement
• Organize the home to facilitate movement

Innovations in Walking Aids

Technological advancements have led to the emergence of innovative walking aids, adapted for people with MS. The Wheeleo®, for example, is a one-handed walker designed to facilitate movement while reducing fatigue and the risk of falls.

Thanks to its stability and maneuverability, the Wheeleo® helps maintain a natural posture and fluid gait, thereby promoting functional recovery and self-confidence. It integrates perfectly into a rehabilitation program, complementing physiotherapy and motor stimulation exercises.

In Belgium, specialized healthcare networks recommend the use of this type of walking aid to limit the progression of disability and improve patients’ quality of life, whether at home or in a rehabilitation center. These innovations also contribute to preventing complications and enhancing patients’ daily autonomy.