Through a teleconference, people will learn more information about new medical treatments for multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects at least 2.5 million Americans.

“Promise and Progress in MS Treatment,” a nationwide teleconference on multiple sclerosis, will be held Saturday from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. The Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines will host the teleconference, which is open to the public.

“At the teleconference, a speaker will provide information to all of the participants,” said Jennie Schoelerman, public relations coordinator for the Iowa Chapter of Multiple Sclerosis. “They will highlight the three new [Food and Drug Administration] drugs for the treatment of MS.”

These drugs, Avonex, Betaseron and Copaxone, help in the treatment of MS, Schoelerman said; however, they do not provide a cure.

“There is not a cure for MS,” she said. “Before the development of these three drugs, those with MS were able to take medication to help with specific symptoms of the disease, which vary from person to person.”

While the exact cause of MS is not known, much is known about its effect on the immune system, according to the MS Web site.

At the teleconference, MS experts will show a video presentation, followed by a live question-and-answer session via an audience conference call.

Schoelerman said the participants supply questions they have about MS that are then answered by an expert over the phone.

“Since this is a nationwide event, the participants will be able to hear the questions as well as the answers that others are supplying from other states.”

Once the question-and-answer session is complete, participants will be able to speak with Dr. Bruce Hughes from the Mercy Ruan Neurology Clinic in the Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, to ask further questions.

According to the Web site, multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system of an estimated 2.5 million people.

“MS causes lesions on the brain and spinal column after the nerves become exposed,” Schoelerman said. “The severity of the disease varies from individual to individual.”

According to Schoelerman, a physical change in appearance is not always noticeable.

“Two people could be walking down the street, both with MS, and one could be in a wheelchair, and the other could look like everyone else on the street,” she said. “The biggest thing for everyone to know about the disease is that a majority of the people are not in a wheelchair or in a nursing home.”

MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system in young adults.

Those diagnosed with MS are generally between 20 and 40 years of age.

Multiple sclerosis is not hereditary, nor is it contagious. It also does not significantly decrease a person’s life span.

An additional speaker will be present at the Des Moines location before the start of the teleconference, to supply information on the application and procedural process of filing a claim for Social Security benefits.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will also be holding their annual “MS Walk” on Sunday. The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Walker Johnston Park, 9000 Douglas Ave., in Des Moines.