Why It Matters
While this topic may sound irrelevant and utterly specific, this component in our body’s nervous system has made a profound impact in my life, from having a stiff neck to full body paralysis in less than 12 hours.
Now, almost half a year later, with lots of recovery made, I feel strong enough to share what I’ve learnt about this vital part of the body.
After all, I’m just someone who made it through, writing with gratitude for overcoming it, humility and full of love for simply being present.
Maybe that’s the biggest learning: our bodies are only as strong as the smallest parts that keep them running. Respect that complexity. Be grateful for it. Take care.
What’s myelin?
Our bodies are constantly sending information through neurons as electrical impulses. To make this communication efficient and fast, we have a mechanism that covers these nerves to ensure conduction velocity 1. Myelin is the fatty cover that makes this possible.
This ensures neurons are able to send information at speeds up to 150 m/s!
That speed helps you react in time, keep your balance, or speak without delay.
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| Animation showing conduction in unmyelinated (left) and myelinated (right) axons. 2 |
The technical details of how this works are fascinating but complex. There are excellent explanations available3.
Demyelination & Impact
If this myelin is damaged, the speed at which electrical impulses travel will be lower, which means loss of function: weakness, pain, loss of sight, sensation, and many others.
Everyday tasks, once automatic, suddenly become a huge challenge. The effects are devastating.
There are many reasons for this to happen, from demyelinating diseases4, with multiple sclerosis being the most prevalent one and a primary cause of disability in young adults5, to infections, toxins and other disorders.
Even though there have been big improvements in the last 20 years6, there are some indicators that the prevalence is rising, with more than 3 million MS patients worldwide7, and that’s just one demyelinating disease among many others.
Research
After experiencing what happens when myelin is lost, I became fascinated with how science is working on repairing it. This is the part I enjoy the most: exploring how we’re engineering our way to control disease activity, prevent progression, and even realistically achieve recovery and regeneration.
Avoiding demyelination has seen huge improvements, especially since we went from immunosuppressive to monoclonal antibodies, designed to specifically neutralize the cells that damage myelin. This makes them safer and more effective. However, there are serious side effects that require monitoring8.
Remyelination is the natural repair process where new myelin is produced around damaged nerves, primarily driven by oligodendrocyte cells (OPCs)9. There are many emerging therapies being researched, from stimulating these cells for this natural regeneration to take place, to stem cell transplantation to renew the immune system10.
It’s incredible to see how close we are to making regeneration and recovery of lost function a reality.
Final Thoughts
Myelin may seem small, but its impact on life is immense.
Recovery has taught me that resilience comes from being patient. All that truly matters is already there: be grateful, listen to your body, move forward, and of course, get help from professionals when needed.
Even in heartbreaking moments, there will be peace. And that peace comes from love.
Thanks.