Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Division Awareness Month, bringing attention to this immune system disorder that affects nearly one million Americans. Dr. Robert Shin, Director of the MS and Clinical Neuroimmunology Division at UVA Health, explains that MS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord, leading to symptoms such as weakness, numbness, vision problems, and fatigue. “Recognizing it, and that’s part of this MS Awareness Month is to let people out there know…, unexplained symptoms might demand a visit to a doctor,” Dr. Shin said, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. 

Significant progress has been made in MS treatment over the past few decades. “Since the 90s, we’ve made just really an unbelievable amount of progress in controlling this condition,” Dr. Shin stated. Early treatments required frequent self-injections, but now, options include daily pills and even infusions as infrequent as every six months, offering patients greater convenience and better disease management. 

Research has also shed light on potential triggers of MS. “Researchers have actually figured out what appears to be the trigger, and it appears to be a viral infection that seems to trigger multiple sclerosis,” Dr. Shin revealed, though why the virus affects some individuals and not others remains uncertain. He also emphasized that MS is not limited to a single demographic, affecting both men and women across different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Awareness efforts during March aim to educate the public on recognizing symptoms early and seeking medical attention to ensure better outcomes.  

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