A specific type of brain lesion called a paramagnetic rim lesion, or PRL, is associated with worse disability over time in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but available disease-modifying therapies (DMT) can lower the chances of the appearance of these lesions, according to two studies published by scientists…
Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) who come from poorer families or other disadvantageous circumstances tend to have more inflammation and irreversible brain tissue loss, a new study reports. “Our findings suggest that social disadvantage in childhood can have lasting effects on MS severity,” Kimberly A. O’Neill, MD, study coauthor…
Higher cholesterol levels are associated with worse cognitive impairments in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. The findings imply that medications or lifestyle changes that reduce cholesterol levels may be useful for addressing MS cognitive impairment, researchers said. The study, “Lipid measures are associated…
Adding noninvasive brain stimulation to physical therapy may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) improve their balance and walking ability, a study shows. Benefits to physical therapy with and without brain stimulation were observed, but most only remained significant after six months in those who’d also received brain stimulation.
Fampyra (fampridine), an oral medication that’s approved to improve walking ability in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), may also help some people with poor working memory, according to a new study. Working memory refers to a person’s ability to keep small pieces of information at the forefront of…
Two enzymes in brain cells are responsible for mediating the toxic effects of certain fat molecules in multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study in a mouse model of the disease suggests. According to the researchers, these enzymes may serve as potential targets for easing neurodegeneration in people with MS.
A ketogenic diet — a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat eating plan called a keto diet for short — was able to lessen the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mouse models by modulating the activity of gut bacteria and their metabolites, a new study shows. The findings suggest that…
A mesenchymal stem cell therapy led to significant improvements in quality-of-life scores for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a small clinical trial, according to the treatment’s developer Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF). “The results of this trial are groundbreaking for multiple sclerosis,” Donna Chang, president of HBRF,…
A new technology is designed to be a “wearable” device for neurons, wrapping around individual nerve fibers with a goal of achieving new ways to study and treat neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Still in early testing stages and needing further refinement, the technology was developed by scientists at…
The European Commission (EC) fined Teva Pharmaceuticals €462.6 million — more that $502 million — after an investigation it launched found the company illegally tried to stop competitor versions of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection), its blockbuster drug for multiple sclerosis (MS), from entering markets. Several patents…
Developing a more comprehensive understanding of the interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and the immune system holds great promise for unlocking new ways to treat neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), a team of researchers argued in a new commentary paper. “Interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and…
Increased production of cholesterol by stem cells in the brain contributes to neurological damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study conducted in lab-grown cells. Findings suggest cholesterol-lowering medications can reverse this damage, implying such treatments might be able to be repurposed for MS. “Cholesterol metabolism has…
Abnormal activity of ancient viral genes may play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders, a study found. “Future functional studies are essential to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying their involvement in these conditions,” the researchers wrote. The study, “…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have multiple comorbidities, or co-occurring health problems, are more likely to experience disease activity and disability progression, according to a new analysis. Results indicate the risk of MS disease activity rises in patients who have at least one psychiatric diagnosis, as well as…
Treatment with modafinil, a medication used to reduce excessive sleepiness, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can both provide clinically meaningful reductions in fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. Combining modafinil with CBT, a form of talk therapy, wasn’t more effective for MS-related fatigue than…
A specific epigenetic marker, or a chemical modification in DNA that alters gene activity, may explain why adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells respond differently to therapies aiming to restore myelin than their neonatal counterparts, a study reports. The modification, called a lysine eight acetylation on histone H4, helps to regulate…
People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who drink low to moderate amounts of alcohol have significantly less disability progression in the years following diagnosis than non-drinkers, a study found. The trend was especially pronounced among women. Although the findings suggest that drinking alcohol may have beneficial effects in some…
People with multiple sclerosis show subtle alterations in gut bacteria that seem to be consistent across populations in the U.S. and Asia, a new analysis of previously published studies found. “Our work … establishes a generalized and common gut microbiome pattern in patients with MS across geographically and technically…
PIPE-307, an experimental oral therapy that’s currently in Phase 2 testing for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), was shown to promote myelin repair in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The preclinical findings were published in PNAS, in the study “Targeting the muscarinic M1 receptor…
A machine learning algorithm may be able to accurately predict whether or not people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience a worsening of disability in the near term — which may help tailor treatment decisions and improve patient quality of life — according to the findings of a new…
Blocking the activity of a protein called connexin 43 (Cx43) may be an effective strategy to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study in animal models of the disease. A compound called INI-0602, which was designed to inhibit this protein, significantly eased disease severity in mice, including…
Tiziana Life Sciences has received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its intranasal foralumab to treat nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). The FDA gives fast track status to experimental medicines that have the potential to fill unmet needs to treat serious…
Inflammation outside of the brain and spinal cord, which can be caused by infections like the common cold, flu, or urinary tract infections (UTIs), is associated with more damage to the nervous system in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). That’s according to the study “…
Using machine learning to analyze eye scans can help detect slight changes that may be early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially aiding in early diagnosis of the disease, a study found. The study, “SLO-Net: Enhancing Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Beyond Optical Coherence Tomography Using Infrared Reflectance…
Using a newly developed molecular analysis, a research team has discovered previously unknown subsets of immune cells and genes that may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other immune-mediated diseases. “We discovered new types of helper T cells as well as genes related to immune disorders. We…
A panel of 20 proteins in blood may be used to quantify disease activity, namely relapses and lesions, in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new paper proposes. “A multi-protein panel like the one developed in this study has the capability to capture the state of a patient’s MS…
When given a specific set of chemical cues, immune cells called neutrophils are able to take on healing abilities that allow them to help repair damaged nerve fibers, a study by U.S. researchers found. The researchers hope to build on this discovery to create new treatments for multiple sclerosis…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have cognitive impairment tend to report worse mental and physical quality of life than patients who don’t have cognitive issues, a study reports. Adults with MS who have cognitive problems are also less likely to be employed. The study, “Association…
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded a $2.9 million, five-year grant to a research project that aims to advance a new technology that could improve stem cell therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders. “The work we plan to undertake has significant implications…
Dormant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) becomes activated during periods of disease relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) and triggers inflammatory activity in multiple types of immune cells, a study suggested. Blocking EBV activation can reduce the inflammatory activity of immune cells, supporting the idea that targeting the dormant virus may…
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