By Irene Maher, Times Staff Writer Irene MaherTampa Bay Times In Print: Monday, September 17, 2012

Regardless of your political leanings, at least one group of Americans was grateful for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions: Those affected by MS.

People with multiple sclerosis appreciated the shout-out from Ann Romney, wife of presidential nominee Mitt Romney, at the Republican National Convention in Tampa and from first lady Michelle Obama with the Democrats a week later in Charlotte, N.C.

Romney has been living with MS since 1998. Obama's father lived with the disease for about 30 years before his death at age 66. Both women related how their lives were affected by MS.

That kind of exposure does more than increase awareness of an often misunderstood disease that afflicts 400,000 Americans, experts said.

"In the case of Ann Romney, seeing someone at the podium, in the national spotlight, living an obviously busy, active life allows others to see how much you can accomplish with MS," said Dr. Stanley Krolczyk, director of the multiple sclerosis division in the department of neurology at USF Health. "It puts a different face on the disease when celebrities, like Montel Williams and Clay Walker, for example, go public and talk about living with MS."

Jzon Livingston Sr., a patient of Krolczyk's, agrees. The 33-year-old self-employed IT administrator was diagnosed with MS four years ago. With treatment, he's been able to continue working and keep up with his three children, ages 15, 13 and 11. Livingston was moved when Obama described watching the decline in her father.

"That's what the average person needs to know about MS. It's a hard disease to have," he said. "Without knowledge of how it can affect lives, there's no understanding. Without understanding, there's no action."

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that targets the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It can range from mild to severe, where the patient is paralyzed or blind. The disease is unpredictable, and symptoms may start suddenly and persist, then resolve. Sometimes, it seems to be dormant and patients may go months or years without a flare-up. Others, though, have symptoms all the time.

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Multiple sclerosis patients, doctors appreciate help from Ann Romney, Michelle Obama