Which inflammatory disease involves the immune system attacking the myelin sheath in the central nervous system?

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking the myelin sheath that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers in the central nervous system (CNS). This damage disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness, coordination issues, and sensory problems. The myelin sheath is crucial for efficient transmission of electrical signals along the nerves, and its destruction results in slowed or blocked nerve impulses, which contributes to the symptoms experienced by those with multiple sclerosis.

In contrast, Parkinson's disease primarily affects movement and is related to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain, rather than involving inflammation of the myelin sheath. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that affects the neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscles but does not primarily involve the immune system attacking myelin. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune condition that affects the peripheral nervous system and primarily causes weakness and tingling but is distinct from the central nervous system involvement seen in multiple sclerosis.