LINKS National MS Society Kid's International Support Org Stony Brook University Hospital	Although Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common acquired neurologic disease of adults in North America, approximately 5% of MS patients develop symptoms in childhood or adolescence. Currently, there is very limited literature concerning pediatric MS. This means that the impact of the disease on neurologic function, cognition, academic achievement, and psychosocial adjustment of the child or adolescent is relatively unknown. The aim of our research is to examine the clinical and demographic features of a large group of pediatric MS patients and document the performance of these children in measures of cognition, school performance, and emotional health. The pediatric MS group will be compared to an age and gender matched group of healthy controls. To our knowledge, this will represent the first large-scale neurological, neuropsychological, and psychosocial study of pediatric MS patients. The results of this effort will advance the health care of individuals with MS by documenting the medical, educational, and emotional needs of this population, and will provide invaluable data on the impact of inflammation and demyelination on the developing central nervous system. Case History Programs