The myelin sheath is the protective, fatty coating surrounding your nerve fibers, similar to the protective insulation around electrical wires. This coating enables the electrical impulses between nerve cells to travel back and forth rapidly. When myelin becomes damaged, these electrical signals are interrupted and may even stop altogether. Myelin is created by specific types of glial cells. In the Central Nervous System (CNS), glial cells are oligodendrocytes; in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), they are Schwann cells. If you’ve ever noticed the jerky, sudden movements babies make, this is because their myelin sheaths aren’t fully developed at birth. As they get older and the myelin matures and builds up, their movements become smoother and more controlled. This process continues through adulthood. Demyelination is the term used to describe the destruction of the myelin sheath, the protective covering surrounding nerve fibers. This damage causes nerve signals to slow down or stop, resulting in neurological impairment.