Myasthenia Gravis literally means, grave muscle weakness. Myasthenia is a combination of the two Greek words “muscle” and “weakness” and Gravis is the Latin word for “grave” or “serious.”
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune, chronic, neuromuscular disease. An autoimmune disorder is when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its healthy tissue. In the case of Myasthenia Gravis, chronic means that it is not curable but is treatable. However the symptoms may or may not persist because MG can go into remission. Neuromuscular refers to both the nerves and the muscles. With Myasthenia Gravis the junction that connects the nerve and the muscle is attacked by the immune system, which prevents the muscle from moving. As it pertains to Myasthenia Gravis, the immune system targets the acetylcholine receptor which has a protein on the muscle that is required for moving the muscles normally. MG patients experience weakness of the voluntary muscles. In short, Myasthenia Gravis interferes with the brain’s ability to move one’s voluntary muscles.
Boys and girls as well as men and women can be diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and it occurs in all races of people, meaning it is not a gender specific nor ethnic specific disease. The onset of the disease can happen at any age including babies, children, teenagers and adults. However, the disease occurs most often in women in their 20’s and 30’s and men above the age of 70. It is rare for children and teenagers to be diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.