Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month: Balo's Disease.
Balo's disease is a subtype of Multiple Sclerosis. Like MS, Balo's disease consists of myelin damage in the nervous system. As you might remember from my MS post , myelin is made up of fatty substances that envelope and protect nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain. Myelin is essential for correct neurological functioning. What makes Balo's disease somewhat different from MS is that damage to the myelin is circular-shaped. Who is at risk for Balo's Disease? As with MS, Balo's disease is considered an autoimmune disorder. With Balo's disease, not only does the immune system attack healthy tissue, it also attacks healthy cells as well. While a lot is still unknown about Balo's disease, researchers do know that the following increase your risk for Balo's disease: -Being of Filipino or Asian descent. -Having a first generation relative with Balo's disease. -Having a family history of autoimmune diseases. Symptoms of Balo's Dis...