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Demyelination

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Definition: The loss of myelin (the fatty protective sheath surrounding nerve cells) caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). Demyelination results in disruptions in the ability of nerves to communicate with one another, as it slows down signals traveling along the nerves. These disruptions cause the symptoms of MS. Regions in the brain or spinal column that have been demyelinated are called “lesions” or “plaques.”
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