TEST YOUR
MS KNOWLEDGE

2. How many people are affected by multiple sclerosis worldwide?

3. What is myelin?

4. What are some common invisible symptoms experienced in multiple sclerosis?

5. What is spasticity?

6. Optic neuritis is linked to multiple sclerosis and is an inflammation that damages the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits visual information from your eye to your brain.

True. Signs and symptoms of optic neuritis can be the first indication of multiple sclerosis, or they can occur later in the course of multiple sclerosis. Most people who have a single episode of optic neuritis eventually recover their vision.

7. Bladder dysfunction occurs in 20% of people with multiple sclerosis.

False. Bladder dysfunction occurs in at least 80% of people with multiple sclerosis. This happens when multiple sclerotic lesions block or delay transmission of nerve signals in areas of the central nervous system (CNS) that control the bladder and urinary sphincters.

8. Both hot and cold temperatures can worsen the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

True. Heat generally produces only temporary worsening of symptoms. It does not cause more disease activity (demyelination or damage to the nerves themselves). The symptoms generally reverse quickly when the source of increased temperature is removed. Some people with multiple sclerosis also notice that symptoms, particularly spasticity, become worse in cold weather.

9. Multiple sclerosis was first recognized as a disease in 1868.

True. In 1868, Jean-Martin Charcot, a professor at the University of Paris who has been called “the father of neurology,” examined a young woman with a tremor he had never seen before. He noted her other neurological problems and compared them to other patients. When she died, he examined her brain and found the characteristic scars or “plaques” of multiple sclerosis.

10. Multiple sclerosis is an inherited disease.

False. Multiple sclerosis is not an inherited disease, meaning it is not a disease that is passed down from generation to generation. However, in multiple sclerosis there is genetic risk that may be inherited. In the general population, the risk of developing multiple sclerosis is about 1 in 750-1000. In identical twins, if one twin has multiple sclerosis, the risk that the other twin will develop multiple sclerosis is about 1 in 4. The risk of developing multiple sclerosis is also increased when other first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) have multiple sclerosis, but far less than in identical twins. About 200 genes have been identified that each contribute a small amount to the overall risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

2. How do DMTs work?

3. Which of the following help confirm the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis?

4. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is usually made between the ages of:

5. How should COPAXONE^® be stored?

6. There is no definitive blood test for multiple sclerosis.

True. While there is no definitive blood test for multiple sclerosis, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of multiple sclerosis, including Lyme disease, a group of diseases known as collagen-vascular diseases, certain rare hereditary disorders, and AIDS.

7. COPAXONE^® was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1996.

True. Daily COPAXONE^® 20 mg was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1996 and 3-times-a-week COPAXONE^® 40 mg was approved in 2014.

8. A pharmacy can switch you to a generic version of COPAXONE^® even if your doctor writes you a prescription for Teva’s COPAXONE^®.

True. It’s possible that you may be switched to a generic daily 20 mg glatiramer acetate injection or 40 mg glatiramer acetate injection at the pharmacy. Ask your doctor to include specific language such as "Dispense As Written" (DAW), "Do Not Substitute," "No Substitution," "Brand Medically Necessary," or "Brand Necessary" on every one of your COPAXONE^® prescriptions, including refills. This helps ensure that your prescription will not be switched from COPAXONE^® to a generic at the pharmacy without your doctor's permission and notice to you.

9. MRI stands for magnetic reliable imaging.

False. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and it is a diagnostic tool that offers the most sensitive non-invasive way of imaging the brain, spinal cord, or other areas of the body.

10. No single test can diagnose multiple sclerosis.

True. A medical history, neurologic exam, and lab tests help doctors rule out other diseases and confirm the diagnosis.

2. Which of the following is important when traveling with multiple sclerosis?

3. What is the definition of cognition?

4. Which of the following statements is true about cognition in multiple sclerosis?

5. What are some common bowel problems in people with multiple sclerosis?

6. Yoga may help with multiple sclerosis symptoms.

True. Practicing yoga can give you tools to help manage everyday tasks that include balancing to stand or walk, strengthening and alignment for standing up and sitting down on a chair, toilet or bed, and core strength for everything you do. Speak with your doctor before starting any exercise routine.

7. There is no special diet for multiple sclerosis patients.

True. Although there's no special “multiple sclerosis diet,” what and how you eat can make a difference in your energy level, bladder and bowel function, and overall health. Multiple sclerosis specialists recommend that people with multiple sclerosis adhere to the same low-fat, high-fiber diet recommendations of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society for the general population.

8. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis, occurring in about 80% of people.

True. Fatigue can significantly interfere with a person's ability to function at home and work, and is one of the primary causes of early departure from the workforce. Fatigue may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations. The cause of multiple sclerosis fatigue is currently unknown.

9. People with multiple sclerosis can experience sleep disturbances.

True. People with multiple sclerosis may be more likely to experience sleep disturbances than the general population.

10. Multiple sclerosis is not triggered by a reaction to a specific environmental allergen.

True. There is no evidence that multiple sclerosis is triggered by a reaction to a specific environmental allergen. Allergies are common in the general population and can occur in people with multiple sclerosis.