Columns

MS news notes: Frexalimab, vidofludimus calcium, Briumvi

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereā€™s a look at whatā€™s been happening: Is CD40L a better way to control MS inflammation? CD40L is a protein thatā€™s involved with activation of…

Up at 9, in bed by 8, yet still no time?

My sleep schedule, according to mathematics, leaves me 11 hours ā€” so whatā€™s my problem? My current ultra-efficient carers arrive at 9:30 a.m. and usually get me into the wet room 15 minutes later. Maybe 20 if my bottom has been misbehaving. Itā€™s been something of a miscreant ever since…

Let’s talk facts about MS and COVID-19 vaccines

Since the early days of the COVID-19 vaccination program, disinformation claiming that the vaccines can induce multiple sclerosis (MS) has swirled around social media. Recently, there’s been a resurgence of this type of post, sparked by a report published on the World Health Organization (WHO) website titled “…

With MS, giving it your ‘some’ adds up to enough

Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) ā€” a training program for entry into the U.S. Army Special Forces ā€” is rare, even among military courses. It has grueling physical aspects, but the majority of it is mental. It’s really one long test to gauge a participant’s ability to work…

MS News Notes: EBV, nabiximols, MRT-6160

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereā€™s a look at whatā€™s been happening: A closer look at the EBV-MS link Much has been written over the past few years about the…

The positive power of the creative life

I donā€™t know why I find it so impossible to sit still. I feel like every moment Iā€™m not engaged in some creative pursuit, Iā€™m somehow missing out. Or worse, Iā€™m squandering what poet Mary Oliver calls my ā€œone wild and precious life.ā€ Multiple sclerosis (MS) has done…

Global warming and the fine art of ambulance chasing

Whoā€™d have thought of the following shenanigans? It only took four days of constant badgering to fix. Last summer brought exceptional (actually, likely to be semi-regular from now on) hot weather in the U.K., with parts of England surpassing 100 F for the very first time. This caused a…

Want to take your MS to the beach?

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer vacation in the U.S., is fast approaching. It’s almost time for some summer beach fun ā€” if we can get there. Beaches can be difficult, if not impossible, to access for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). But times seem to be…

My 5 wishes for the future of multiple sclerosis

A recent post on the MS-Selfie blog asks and answers this question: What is the “greatest unmet need” concerning multiple sclerosisĀ (MS)? Professor Gavin Giovannoni, the London-based neurologist who writes that blog, lists five unmet needs, many of which I agree with. But those needs are from the viewpoint…

MS news notes: Stem cell therapy, early Aubagio use, DMTs

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Today I’ll focus on stories from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2023 Annual Meeting, held April 22-27 in Boston. Hereā€™s a look at…

If you have MS, is it time to get another COVID-19 booster?

Those with multiple sclerosis (MS) may want to roll up their sleeves again for a COVID-19 vaccine. I’m thinking about whether to join them. About 10 days ago, an advisory committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported a recommendation that people 65…

MS news notes: Yoga, vitamin D, myelin repair, fall risk

Welcome to ā€œMS News Notes,ā€ a Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereā€™s a look at whatā€™s been happening: Yoga vs. physical therapy The MS News Today article “Yoga better than physical therapy at improving…