Which neurological condition involves patches of demyelination in the CNS?

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by the presence of patches of demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). This autoimmune condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, which is the protective covering around nerve fibers. The result is the formation of lesions or plaques that disrupt the communication between the brain and other parts of the body.

Patients with multiple sclerosis may experience a variety of neurological symptoms depending on the location and extent of the demyelination, including muscle weakness, coordination issues, sensory disturbances, and cognitive changes. The disease often has periodic flare-ups of symptoms followed by periods of remission, which can vary widely among individuals.

In contrast, Alzheimer’s disease is primarily characterized by neurodegeneration and the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, rather than demyelination. Parkinson’s disease involves the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and is largely associated with movement disorders rather than demyelination. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that affects motor neurons but does not primarily involve demyelination of axons in the CNS like multiple sclerosis does. Thus, the defining characteristic of patches of demyelination aligns specifically with multiple sclerosis.