Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Understanding Neuroimmune Inflammation and Complex Root Contributors
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated condition that affects the central nervous system and can significantly impact mobility, sensation, cognition, and overall quality of life. For many individuals, an MS diagnosis is not the end of the journey for answers—it is often the beginning of deeper questions about why immune dysfunction developed and why symptoms may progress or fluctuate over time.
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At Keystone Total Health, individuals navigating complex neuroimmune conditions are evaluated through a root-cause functional framework guided by Dr. Martin Hart, DC, and Dr. Koji Aoki, DC. Our clinic is located in Columbia, Tennessee, serving the greater Nashville area and welcoming clients from across the United States seeking a broader understanding of chronic neurological and inflammatory conditions.
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Reviewed by Dr. Martin Hart, DC & Dr. Koji Aoki, DC
What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic condition characterized by immune-mediated inflammation within the central nervous system, specifically affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. In MS, immune activity targets the myelin sheath—the protective covering surrounding nerve fibers—disrupting normal nerve signal transmission.
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Over time, this inflammatory process can lead to slowed or altered communication between the brain and body, contributing to a wide range of neurological symptoms. MS may follow different patterns, including relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, or primary progressive courses, and symptoms can vary significantly between individuals.
How the Nervous and Immune Systems Interact in MS
The nervous system and immune system are closely interconnected. In MS, immune signaling becomes dysregulated, allowing inflammatory cells and mediators to cross the blood–brain barrier and affect neural tissue.
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Rather than viewing MS as an isolated neurological condition, many researchers and clinicians recognize it as a neuroimmune disorder, where immune activation, inflammation, and nervous system stress influence one another over time. This helps explain why MS symptoms can worsen during periods of illness, stress, or environmental exposure.
Common Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
MS symptoms reflect the areas of the nervous system affected and may evolve gradually or appear suddenly.
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Neurological symptoms may include changes in sensation such as numbness, tingling, burning, or altered temperature perception. Muscle weakness, stiffness, spasticity, and coordination difficulties are also common, affecting balance, gait, and fine motor control. Many individuals experience visual disturbances, including blurred vision, double vision, or optic neuritis.
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Cognitive and emotional symptoms are also frequently reported. These may include brain fog, slowed processing speed, memory challenges, mood changes, or increased emotional reactivity. Fatigue—often profound and disproportionate to activity level—is one of the most common and disabling symptoms associated with MS.
Why MS Is Considered a Complex Chronic Condition
MS does not develop from a single cause. Instead, it reflects long-standing immune and inflammatory dysregulation influenced by multiple contributing factors.
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Research suggests that MS risk and progression may be influenced by a combination of genetic susceptibility, immune imbalance, chronic inflammation, environmental exposures, infections, gut health disturbances, and nervous system stress. This complexity is one reason symptom patterns and disease course vary widely from person to person.
Multiple Sclerosis, Infections, and Immune Triggers
Chronic infections have long been studied as potential contributors to immune dysregulation in MS. Certain viral and bacterial exposures may influence immune signaling and inflammatory pathways involved in neuroimmune conditions.
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In clinical practice, Dr. Hart and Dr. Aoki frequently observe individuals with MS who also have a history of Lyme disease or other chronic infections. These infections can contribute to immune activation, neurological inflammation, and symptom persistence, complicating the clinical picture.
MS and Environmental Factors, Including Mold Exposure
Environmental exposures are another important consideration in neuroimmune conditions. Mold illness (CIRS) and biotoxin exposure have been associated with chronic inflammatory signaling and nervous system stress.
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For some individuals with MS, mold exposure may act as an additional immune trigger, increasing symptom burden or contributing to neurological inflammation. This overlap highlights the importance of evaluating environmental factors as part of a comprehensive, root-cause perspective.
Gut Health and Neuroimmune Inflammation in MS
The gut plays a central role in immune regulation. Alterations in the gut microbiome, increased intestinal permeability, and chronic gut inflammation can influence systemic immune activity and inflammatory signaling.
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Emerging research continues to explore the gut–brain–immune connection in MS, supporting the idea that digestive health, immune balance, and neurological function are deeply interconnected rather than separate systems.
How MS Is Evaluated from a Root-Cause Perspective
At Keystone Total Health, MS is viewed through a systems-based, functional lens that seeks to understand contributing factors beyond neurological imaging alone.
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Evaluation may involve a detailed review of symptom history, immune and inflammatory patterns, environmental exposures, nutritional status, gut health, and overlapping conditions such as mold illness or Lyme disease. The goal is not to replace neurological care, but to gain a clearer picture of what may be influencing immune and nervous system stress.
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Many individuals pursue this broader evaluation through the Keystone Root Cause Intensive, which provides a structured, immersive assessment process for complex chronic illness.
Why MS Symptoms May Fluctuate or Progress
MS symptoms often fluctuate due to changes in immune activity, inflammation, nervous system resilience, and external stressors. Factors such as infections, environmental exposure, emotional stress, sleep disruption, and nutrient depletion may influence symptom severity or frequency.
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Understanding these influences can help explain why symptom patterns are not always predictable.
Who May Benefit from a Root-Cause-Oriented MS Evaluation?
A broader evaluation may be helpful for individuals with MS who experience persistent fatigue, cognitive changes, worsening neurological symptoms, or overlapping immune and inflammatory conditions. It may also benefit those who suspect environmental exposure, chronic infection, or systemic contributors beyond the nervous system alone.
Serving Columbia, TN, Nashville, and Clients Nationwide
Keystone Total Health is located in Columbia, Tennessee, serving individuals from the greater Nashville area and welcoming clients from across the country who travel to work with Dr. Hart and Dr. Aoki for comprehensive autoimmune and thyroid evaluation.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) FAQ
The following questions address common concerns about Multiple Sclerosis, including symptoms, immune involvement, environmental influences, and why MS is considered a complex chronic condition.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated condition in which inflammation affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain, spinal cord, and body by damaging myelin.
Is MS an autoimmune condition?
MS is considered an immune-mediated or autoimmune-related condition in which the immune system contributes to inflammation within the central nervous system, although its exact mechanisms are complex and still being studied.
What are the most common symptoms of MS?
Common symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, balance issues, vision changes, cognitive difficulties, and mood changes. Symptoms vary widely between individuals.
​Can infections like Lyme disease affect MS?
Chronic infections, including Lyme disease, may influence immune activation and inflammatory pathways that affect neurological health. In some individuals, infections can complicate symptom patterns.
Can mold exposure worsen MS symptoms?
Environmental factors such as mold exposure may increase inflammatory burden and nervous system stress, potentially influencing symptom severity in susceptible individuals.
Why does MS fatigue feel different from normal tiredness?
MS-related fatigue is often disproportionate to activity and may reflect immune activation, neurological inflammation, and impaired nervous system signaling rather than simple physical exhaustion.
How is MS evaluated from a root-cause perspective?
A root-cause evaluation looks beyond imaging alone and considers immune patterns, inflammation, environmental exposures, infections, gut health, and nervous system regulation.
Who may benefit from a broader evaluation alongside neurological care?
Individuals with MS who experience persistent fatigue, cognitive symptoms, immune issues, or suspected environmental or infectious contributors may benefit from a broader, systems-based evaluation.
Resources & Further Reading
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National Multiple Sclerosis Society: https://www.nationalmssociety.org
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): https://www.ninds.nih.gov
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Hauser SL, Cree BAC. Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review – New England Journal of Medicine
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PubMed: Neuroimmune and inflammatory mechanisms in MS
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Cleveland Clinic: Multiple Sclerosis Overview