[jaguar]

I understand the simplified cause of MS (in a neuroscience for dummies kind of way) is the nervous system attacking itself, cause unknown but expected to be some kind of genetic timebomb. i didn't know there was a similar scenario with damage as well. I also wasn't aware of a link to altzhimers, can you explain that a little further?

A synapse is the way two neurons interact by releasing certain chemicals between each other to act as a conduit for the electricial signals that go through neurons right?

Lost me completely on number 3. That must've been a real toss in the deep end, that's a lot of terminology and theroy to learn damn fast. I have a friend at oxford who does protien crystolography work, is that in any way similar? Some of the terms sound familiar from him talking about his work.

As you can no doubt tell, I'm faily thick when it comes to this stuff but it's facinating to talk to people on the 'front lines' so to speak.