Multiple Sclerosis (abbreviated MS)-MS is a chronic or relapsing disorder which is characterised by the "attacking" and thus damaging and removal of the myelin of the nervous system. Because of an unknown factor or factors, (perhaps an encounter with an infectious agent, or some other environmental factor) the immune system is triggered to attack the myelin portions of the nervous system. This is detrimental, because as we discussed in glycolipids, these fats are essential to the proper conduction and insulation of the nervous system. When the myelin is removed, plaques are formed and the damaged area becomes partially or completely non-functional. This can be disastrous because the parts of the neervous system that are damaged cannot perform whatever part of the body that they are supplying. For example, if the myelin in part of the spinal cord that supplies the left leg is damaged, partial or complete paralysis can result. High dose corticoisteroids are the best known therapy to damper this immune response against the myelin. The interesting part of MS is that only the central nervous system is affected, and the peripheral nerves are unaffected. This helps the clinical to differentiate MS from other conditions. Unfortunately, there is yet no cure. However, steroids are an excellent way of putting MS into temporary remission. A slight increase in the amount of polyunsaturated fats in the diet may also be of benefit.