Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida, In

Mission Statement

To provide comprehensive care for the body, mind, and spirit for individuals living with MS.

Organizational Overview

The Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has served the community since 2000. Its mission is to provide comprehensive care to support the body, mind, and spirit of individuals living with MS. The MS Center is not a chapter of a national organization, and only serves Southwest Florida. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS). The disease causes inflammation that damages myelin — the substance that covers and insulates the nerve fibers. When myelin or nerve fibers are damaged or destroyed, messages within the CNS are altered or stopped completely. As a result, the patient can suffer from a wide range of symptoms depending on where the damage (or scarring) occurs in the body. Symptoms can range from optic neuritis to the loss of the ability to walk. Severity can also vary widely from person to person. The disease affects women 3 times more often than men. Most people are diagnosed between age 20 and 50.