Myelin Repair: The Science

Myelin is the fatty protective coating surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system. Because of its role in aiding the conduction of electrical signals among and between neurons in the brain and spinal cord, it is often compared to the insulating material around an electrical wire. Myelin rich “white matter,” constitutes nearly one-half of the human brain.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide. In MS, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Though healthy human systems have the natural ability to repair myelin damage, in MS where damage occurs, scars of hardened sclerotic tissue inhibit and/or prevent that process from taking place. Loss of myelin, referred to as demyelination, interferes with the transmission of nerve signals and triggers a wide range of unpredictable symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, stiffness, bladder problems and blindness. There is no cure for MS. Myelin loss has also been linked to a number of other neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.

Today’s approved therapies for Multiple Sclerosis work by suppressing the entire body’s immune system to slow or prevent the immune system from attacking. If successful, the treatments can slow the progression of the disease and severity of the attacks. Immunosuppressant treatments do not repair the myelin damage caused by MS and therefore play no role in restoring the lost function associated with the disease. A treatment that can restore and protect myelin holds promise to restore that lost function.