What autoimmune disorder involves the body attacking the myelin of the brain and spinal cord?

The condition characterized by the body attacking the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord is known as multiple sclerosis. In this autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakenly targets and damages the myelin, which is crucial for the proper conduction of electrical impulses along the nerves. As a result, patients may experience a range of neurological symptoms, including vision problems, muscle weakness, coordination and balance issues, and cognitive changes.

In contrast, Guillain-Barre syndrome primarily affects the peripheral nerves and is often triggered by an infection, leading to a rapid onset of muscle weakness and paralysis. Muscular dystrophy, on the other hand, is a genetic disorder that results in progressive skeletal muscle weakness and does not involve an autoimmune response against the myelin. A stroke occurs due to an interruption of blood flow to the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation and potential brain damage, but it is not an autoimmune condition affecting the myelin.

Thus, multiple sclerosis is distinctly identified by the autoimmune attack on myelin within the central nervous system, making it the correct choice in this context.