Patricia Silva, PhD, director of science content —

One June 3, a workshop titled “Metabolism in MS and Related Conditions” was presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), held June 1-4 in National Harbor, Maryland. One of the speakers was Dr. David Sheikh-Hamad, professor of medicine-nephrology at Baylor College of…

There is a greater number of older people with multiple sclerosis than ever before, and the number is likely to continue growing. That combination, of old age with MS, puts people at risk of significantly reduced physical function than those without the disease. This was a key finding of a…

The use of assistive devices is ineffective for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a study recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting concluded. But physical training using such devices can help improve mobility and the result is usually accompanied by a lower level of signaling…

Two case reports from the Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Centers presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting demonstrated how a multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical practice guideline for rehabilitation was implemented through the rehab path, highlighting the importance of consistency of practice and continuity of care for…

Most research in multiple sclerosis (MS) has focused on the impact of the disease on the lower extremities. To balance this, researchers at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Connecticut thoroughly characterized upper arm and hand functions in MS patients, finding that disease duration and disability level differently affected various…

Research from Indiana University School of Medicine showed that D3T – a compound that triggers copying of antioxidant genes and production of the antioxidant glutathione – delays disease development and lowers disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal models. The models mimicked multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans, advancing further exploration…

Data recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting showed that Roche/Genentech’s investigational drug ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) lowered the risk of disability progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a condition for which no approved treatments exist. The study was presented during the “…

A study of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients who had one or more relapses on earlier treatment, showed that alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) improved disability progression over five years, even though most patients received treatment only during the first two years. The study showed that alemtuzumab is a viable option for long-term…

A study, recently presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Md., showed MS patients of African decent might better benefit from treatment with alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) compared to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (Rebif) – with lower rates of relapses evident over five years…

Dr. Rosalind Kalb, vice president of the Professional Resource Center at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York City, recently presented her work at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) June 1-4 in National Harbor, Maryland. She participated in several symposiums, primarily “Gaining Perspectives on Advanced…

The “Comprehensive Care in MS and Symptom Management” session at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting, included a different kind of contribution –  the presentation of a short film exposing the health challenges specific to Hispanic patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Intended to promote…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using an interactive, self-guided fatigue management resource, developed by researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada, reported lower fatigue and improved cognition after three months, showing that fatigue self-management tools can contribute to the treatment of this common MS symptom. The pilot study, “…

One of the highlights at the “Comprehensive Care in MS and Symptom Management” session of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting, was an attempt to address the exclusion of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the design and delivery of healthcare aimed at this…

Identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who suffer from dysphagia — swallowing difficulties — early on allows the prevention of aspiration pneumonia, a leading cause of death in MS. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas developed a screening tool to detect dysphagia and presented encouraging preliminary data on…

People with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) are usually older and more disabled than those with relapsing-remitting MS, researchers at Washington University reported. The team is studying demographic and clinical characteristics of PPMS patients enrolled in the NARCOMS registry, to better understand their unmet needs and possibly improve research into potential treatments. The study, “…

The use of induced pluripotent stem cells to create disease-specific neurons and oligodendrocytes for the study of multiple sclerosis (MS) is hampered by the huge variability of features such cells possess. To get around this problem, researchers from Ohio State University created an atlas of how cell characteristics are linked…

On June 2, a symposium titled “Cell-based therapies in MS” was presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). One of the speakers was Dr. Mark S. Freedman, professor of medicine (neurology) at the University of Ottawa in Canada, who discussed the use of stem…

Exercise might improve sleep quality in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 annual meeting, June 1 – 4, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. The study, “The Impact of…

While most multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers focus on the autoimmune and inflammatory processes of the disease, researchers at the Mind Research Network (MRN) believe that improving axonal function might contribute to better MS outcomes. Using Ampyra (dalfampridine), they thoroughly analyzed the function of nerve axon connections between the two brain…

A symposium focused on lifestyle factors and unconventional medicine as part of the clinical care provided to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) took place today at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). The symposium, “Expanding the MS Toolkit: Integrating Lifestyle Factors and Unconventional Medicine…

Dr. Fred Lublin, a renowned multiple sclerosis (MS) expert at Mount Sinai Medical Center, helped launch the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 1 – 4, in National Harbor, Md. with the John F. Kurtzke Memorial Lecture he titled “Do Relapses Really Matter?” “How relapses influence disease worsening,…

The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual Meeting began today, June 1. Multiple Sclerosis News Today is providing extensive on-site coverage of the meeting, reporting on presentations, and conducting exclusive interviews with top researchers in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) and with biopharmaceutical representatives on the latest advances in MS therapies.

Zinbryta (daclizumab) was approved May 27 for the treatment of adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Biogen’s new long-acting injection as a patient self-administered monthly therapy. The director of Neurology Products at the U.S. FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation…

Data from an extension phase of a Phase 3 clinical trial, given in an oral presentation by MedDay, reported that the biotin  MD1003 showed effectiveness over time as a possible treatment of non-active, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The data were presented at the recent 2nd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Denmark by Professor Ayman Tourbah,…

The Russian Ministry of Health recently granted Marketing Authorization (ЛП-003567) to R-Pharm JSC for the development of  “Glatirat” (Glatiramer acetate), a drug intended for the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and clinically isolated syndrome. According to a press release, the registration of “Glatirat” was based…

Sanofi Genzyme recently launched vs.MS, a global initiative to raise awareness of the often unspoken physical and emotional burden of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) on people living with the disease and their care partners. On World MS Day yesterday, the company called on the MS community to learn more about the…

Yissum Research Development Company, an arm of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has entered into an agreement with Aurum Ventures MKI to develop a diagnostic blood test for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and a range of other diseases, which uses differences in DNA from dying cells found in the blood of sick individuals.

A mutation in a mouse model of the John Cunningham (JC) virus, which causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), allows the virus to evade the host immune responses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study into the mechanisms of PML. Infection with the JC virus most often passes unnoticed in healthy…

With the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 fast approaching, Multiple Sclerosis News Today sat down with a man of far-reaching interest in multiple sclerosis (MS)  — Dr. Rick Munschauer, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Neurology and Immunology at…

ReWalk Robotics, Ltd., announced it is partnering with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University to further develop and test lightweight exoskeleton systems for people with disabilities affecting their lower limbs, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). “This is a very exciting day for the soft suit technology,” Conor Walsh, a…