Demielinizáció

Demielinizáció is the loss of the myelin sheath, a fatty insulating layer that surrounds nerve fibers (axons) in the central and peripheral nervous systems. This myelin sheath is crucial for the efficient transmission of electrical signals along the nerves. When myelin is damaged or destroyed, nerve signal conduction becomes impaired, slowed, or completely blocked, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms.

The most well-known condition associated with demyelination is multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease where the body's own immune system attacks the myelin. Other causes of demyelination can include infections, inflammatory conditions, metabolic disorders, and certain toxins.

Symptoms of demyelination vary greatly depending on the location and extent of myelin loss. They can include problems with vision, sensation, movement, coordination, and cognitive function. For example, demyelination in the optic nerve can cause blurred vision or vision loss, while damage to motor pathways can result in weakness, spasticity, or paralysis.

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of neurological examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize lesions in the brain and spinal cord, and sometimes evoked potentials to measure nerve signal speed. There is currently no cure for most demyelinating diseases, but treatments aim to manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and slow disease progression. Research into remyelination, the process of restoring myelin, is an active area of scientific investigation.