Demyelinating disease

A demyelinating disease is any disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged. This impairs the conduction of signals in the affected nerves, causing impairment in sensation, movement, cognition, or other functions depending on which nerves are involved.

The term describes the effect of the disease, rather than its cause; some demyelinating diseases are caused by genetics, some by infectious agents, some by autoimmune reactions, and some by unknown factors. Organophosphates, a class of chemicals which are the active ingredients in commercial insecticides such as sheep dip, weed-killers, and flea treatment preparations for pets, etc., will also demyelinate nerves.

Neuroleptics can cause demyelination.

Demyelinating diseases
Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system include:
 * multiple sclerosis (together with the similar diseases called idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases)
 * Vitamin B12 deficiency
 * Central pontine myelinolysis
 * Tabes Dorsalis
 * transverse myelitis
 * Devic's disease
 * progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
 * Optic neuritis
 * Leukodystrophies

Demyelinating diseases of the peripheral nervous system include:
 * Guillain-Barré syndrome and its chronic counterpart, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
 * anti-MAG peripheral neuropathy
 * Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
 * Copper deficiency