The Impacts of Multiple Sclerosis in Brain Health (Essay Sample)

Exploring Multiple Sclerosis in Brain Health
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Exploring Multiple Sclerosis in Brain Health
The number of students being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the United States is rising drastically, prompting the need to support learners living with the disease. MS may be an autoimmune health condition; it affects the central nervous system (CNS). Unfortunately, the exact causes of MS are unknown. However, Hoffman, Geisthardt, & Sucharski (2019) argue that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increases the risk of developing the disease. While the severity and progress of its symptoms remain unpredictable, most patients are usually diagnosed between the ages of twenty and fifty years, with females being three times more likely to be diagnosed than males. Hence, there is need to gather sufficient information about the disease, including its impact on cognition, academic performance, and normal functioning of CNS. While many schools have experience dealing with various disabilities and pediatric conditions that affect academic performance, MS presents unique challenges due to its fluctuating and unpredictable nature, changing patient needs, and the relative rarity of the chronic disease among children.
MS is characterized by cognitive imbalance and fluctuating and unpredictable behavioral patterns among patients. Many students experience uncertainty, fear, and anxiety when afflicted by MS. Besides, their academic performance is adversely affected as they lose concentration in the classroom. Some scientists believe that treating children aged below ten years is appropriate for reducing the long-term health impacts of the disease (Isernia et al., 2019). Psychosocial factors such as mental stress and conflict present significant implications on the pathogenesis of MS. These influences act as predictors for the onset of the chronic disease, consequently affecting how the human body and its immune system respond to cognitive functions. Conversely, the symptoms of MS – like vision impairments, fatigue, bladder complications, and sexual dysfunction – may ameliorate or deteriorate depending on how the body responds to the initial developmental stages of the disease. Therefore, healthcare professionals should adopt appropriate multi-channel control measures from a psychosocial perspective, improving the quality of life among students and emphasizing regular tests.
Brain Function and Cognitive Processes
MS Patients exhibit pronounced cognitive impairments and unpredictable changes in the structure and functioning of the brain. The chronic disease affects a patient's brain cells by attacking the spinal code and optic nerves. The CNS is a complex network of tissues responsible for transferring, receiving, and interpreting information. Sadeghi et al. (2018) explain that an attack on the nervous system adversely affects the effectiveness of brain cells in coordinating functions and relaying information across the body. As a result, affected individuals experience delayed nervous responses, memory loss, and frequent brain lapses. These adverse outcomes affect academic outcomes as learners experience difficulties when interpreting information or concentrating in the classroom. Besides, damage to the brain's corpus callosum – which separates the two hemispheres in the brain – leads to cognitive imbalance and impairment. A drastic loss in the volume of the brain is attributed to the pathogenesis of MS; this is directly correlated to the malfunction of brain cells. The common symptoms caused by the chronic disease include muscle spasms, body weakness, tremors, and loss of balance. While considerable research is being conducted to elucidate the neural and cognitive changes attributed to MS, the diagnosis and heterogeneity of symptoms make application of evidence-based findings to clinical practice challenging.
Approximately 50% of MS patients experience cognitive impairment. Such imbalance is common when patients have radiologically isolated syndrome, which is suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis. Children and adolescents with weak immune systems can be affected by rapid deterioration of cognition if affected by MS. According to Florea et al. (2020), MS affects a learner's vocational status and personal life, leading to isolation, lack of self-esteem, and impaired judgment. Besides, students can experience frequent fatigue, depression, and other aggravated symptoms. Healthcare practitioners recommend the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine the degree of cognitive imbalance and damage caused by MS. This non-invasive technology produces magnetic waves that provide detailed pictures of the internal parts of a human body. It facilitates the advanced diagnosis and monitoring of MS, allowing pediatricians to adopt appropriate clinical measures for mitigating the effects of this chronic disease. Cognitive-behavioral therapies and educational programs help