Which disease is a demyelinating disease of the nervous system often diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age and treated with ACTH and steroids?

• A. Meningitis
• B. Multiple Sclerosis
• C. Hydrocephalus
• D. Neuralgia

Answer: (B)

Demyelination of the central nervous system caused by an autoimmune process, with episodes of neurologic symptoms that come and go. This disease often begins in young adults, typically around ages 20 to 40, and during a relapse doctors use high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation; ACTH has historically been used to stimulate cortisol production to help control symptoms. This combination—demylinating CNS disease in young adults treated with steroids/ACTH during flares—best fits multiple sclerosis. The other conditions involve infection (meningitis), CSF flow problems (hydrocephalus), or nerve pain (neuralgia) and do not match this pattern.