Multiple sclerosis is a common neurological illness that typically commences between the ages of twenty and forty-years of age; once Multiple Sclerosis has manifested itself, an unpredictable course follows.
Multiple Sclerosis affects thirty to eighty people per every one-hundred thousand, and is the most common non-trauma induced central nervous system disorder affecting individuals between the ages of thirty and forty years. Somatic symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include weakness, impaired vision, impaired bladder or bowel control, chronic pain, and paralysis. Multiple Sclerosis has a profound impact on every aspect of an individual’s life, especially as it typically afflicts people in their most productive years. Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by myelination throughout an individual’s central nervous system. The loss of myelin leads to impaired neural transmission, which becomes the underlying source to a variety of cognitive problems and impairments observable in individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. For example, individuals suffering from Multiple Sclerosis often experience difficulties with short-term memory, and also information processing efficiency. Information processing efficiency involves the congruent employment of both an individuals’ working memory and the speed by which they are able to process information. Working memory primarily involves the concurrent temporary storage and processing necessary for the performance of a variety of cognitive tasks. Working memory has been presented as a set of limited capacity subsystems within memory, specializing in different types of temporary information storage. Working memory is the area of the brain responsible for individuals being able to multi-task; recall multiple amounts of information at once; and / or perform one task while preserving the products of earlier completed tasks.
Limitations of working memory capacity possess a significant contribution to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis in terms of impairment in learning new tasks and information. Structural and Operational deficits in working memory, seen in Multiple Sclerosis sufferers, manifest an extremely large hindrance in terms of learning new information. A variety of emotional and somatic symptoms also fall under characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis, such as restlessness, fatigue, physical disability, decision-making difficulty; disinterest in sex; sleep disturbance; anxiety; and depression. Depression in particular is prevalent among Multiple Sclerosis patients, and is diagnoses in higher prevalence when compared with individuals suffering from other medical or neurological conditions with levels of physical disability similar to Multiple Sclerosis.
Depression coexisting with Multiple Sclerosis can greatly increase an individuals suffering, as well as affect their productivity and the course of the disease. Depression also affects the rehabilitation of Multiple Sclerosis patients, as it reduces motivation, and increases risk of suicidal ideation and suicide. Depression and anxiety however, are often overlooked when creating a treatment plan for individuals suffering from the effects of Multiple Sclerosis.
Neurofeedback offers an effective alternative therapy to enhance and supplement
treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, targeting often overlooked problems, such
as Depression and Anxiety, by treating the person’s brain directly. If
you or someone you love, suffer from the debilitating effects of Multiple
Sclerosis, we at the Sinha Clinic encourage the exploration of all available
treatment options, such as Neurofeedback.