What autoimmune disorder attacks the myelin sheath of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in plaques?

The disorder characterized by an autoimmune attack on the myelin sheath of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, leading to the formation of plaques, is multiple sclerosis. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system mistakenly targets the myelin, an insulating layer that facilitates efficient transmission of electrical impulses along the nerves. This demyelination disrupts communication between the brain and various parts of the body, resulting in a wide range of neurological symptoms. The presence of plaques—in areas where myelin has been damaged—can be visualized through MRI scans, which is significant in diagnosing and monitoring the disease.

Myasthenic crisis and cholinergic crisis are associated with the neuromuscular junction and do not involve the central nervous system specifically or the myelin sheath of nerve fibers. Parkinson’s disease primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain and is not an autoimmune disorder that involves demyelination. Therefore, the correct identification of multiple sclerosis underscores its specific pathological mechanism involving immune-mediated damage to myelin, differentiating it from other disorders.