Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Piet Mondrian's trees and the evolution in understanding multiple sclerosis, Charcot Prize Lecture 2011
Lawrence Steinman1, Robert C Axtell, Donald Barbieri
1Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. steinman@stanford.edu
Abstract:
Four questions were posed about multiple sclerosis (MS) at the 2011 Charcot Lecture, Oct. 22, 2011. 1. The Male/Female Disparity: Why are women developing MS so much more frequently than men? 2. Neuronal and Glial Protection: Are there guardian molecules that protect the nervous system in MS? 3. Predictive Medicine: With all the approved drugs, how can we rationally decide which one to use? 4. The Precise Scalpel vs. the Big Hammer for Therapy: Is antigen-specific therapy for demyelinating disease possible? To emphasize how our views on the pathogenesis and treatment of MS are evolving, and given the location of the talk in Amsterdam, Piet Mondrian's progressive interpretations of trees serve as a heuristic.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

