Demyelinating disease

A demyelinating disease is any disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged. This impairs the conduction of signals in the affected nerves, causing impairment in sensation, movement, cognition, or other functions depending on which nerves are involved.

The term describes the effect of the disease, rather than its cause; some demyelinating diseases are caused by genetics, some by infectious agents, some by autoimmune reactions, and some by unknown factors. Organo-phosphates, a class of chemicals which are the active ingredients in commercial insecticides such as sheep dip, weed-killers, and flea treatment preparations for pets, etc, will also demyelinate nerves.

Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system

 * multiple sclerosis (together with the similar diseases called idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases)
 * transverse myelitis
 * Devic's disease
 * progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Demyelinating diseases of the peripheral nervous system

 * Guillain-Barré syndrome and its chronic counterpart, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
 * anti-MAG peripheral neuropathy.