In a health body, the immune system defends against foreign invaders such as viruses or bacteria. But multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an auto-immune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own tissue. In the case of MS, myelin is attacked.
Scientists do not yet know what triggers the immune system to do this. Most agree that several factors are involved, including:
- Genetics
- Gender
- Environmental Triggers (possibilities include viruses, trauma, heavy metals, and pesticide exposure)*
*[Editor's Note: Recent experiments at the University of North Dakota clearly link MS with pesticide exposure.
The main points of this research, which was done on rats, are:
- The areas of the brain showing change following pesticide exposure are the same areas involved in multiple sclerosis.
- Results also show pesticide exposure damages the same brain areas linked to epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
- Pesticides can also cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal system and cause neurological dysfunction.]
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