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February 21, 2019February 21, 2019

FDA Warns Against Plasma Transfusions Being Used to Treat MS and Other Diseases at Sites in US

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against the use of plasma transfusions from young donors to alleviate or treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis or other diseases, noting such ... Read more

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019

In Creating ‘Immune Cell Atlas of Brain,’ Scientists Find Microglia Highly Complex in Behavior and Role

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In mapping the immune system of the brain in mice and humans, scientists in Germany found that microglia — a type of nerve cell located in the central nervous system ... Read more

February 20, 2019February 20, 2019

Early Use of High-efficacy DMTs of Long-term Benefit to MS Patients, Real-world Study Reports

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients given intensive disease-modifying therapies early in their disease course have more favorable long-term outcomes than those treated with an escalating regimen, real-world data shows. The ... Read more

February 20, 2019February 21, 2019

Vitamin B12, Folic Acid Supplements Yield Multiple Benefits for MS Patients

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Vitamins B12 and B9 (folic acid) supplements can lower levels of homocysteine (a common amino acid), improve anemia status, and boost self-reported physical health in patients with multiple sclerosis, according ... Read more

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019

Depression, Psychological Distress Symptoms Significantly Affect MS Patients’ Quality of Life, Study Finds

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Depression and psychological distress symptoms can have a huge effect on the way multiple sclerosis (MS) patients view their well-being, a new study has found. Since depression and psychological distress ... Read more

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019

Participants Sought for Clinical Trial Studying Effects of Lipoic Acid on Progressive MS

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A clinical trial to test the effects of antioxidant treatment with lipoic acid on progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is recruiting 118 participants at seven sites in North America. ... Read more

February 18, 2019February 20, 2019

Protein That Turns Certain T-cells into Inflammatory Agents Identified in Early Study

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A protein called Satb1 appears to be the “on switch” that turns a type of T-cell called Th17 from its typical protective role into one that is disease-causing, and ... Read more

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019

Natural Neurosteroid Seen to Block Inflammatory Response in Immune System and Brain in Animal Study

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A naturally occurring compound, a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone, prevents the activation of the TLR4 protein in macrophages  — a type of immune cell — and in the brain, new ... Read more

February 15, 2019February 18, 2019

Newly Published NMSS Study Confirms Nearly 1 Million Americans Have MS

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It’s finally official: Around 900,000 Americans and quite possibly more than that have multiple sclerosis (MS) — easily double the long-accepted figure of 400,000. Since MS News Today first ... Read more

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019

Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Blood of Value as Biomarker of MS Activity and Treatment Response, Study Finds

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Blood levels of a nerve cell-derived component known as neurofilament light chain (NfL) could be used as a biomarker of disease severity and treatment response in patients with relapsing-remitting ... Read more

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019

Tiny RNA miR-142 Key in Preventing Autoimmunity, Study Reports

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A tiny molecule known as microRNA-142 plays a key role in the prevention of autoimmune responses through immune cells called regulatory T-cells (Tregs), according to a new study of ... Read more

February 14, 2019February 15, 2019

Continuous Use of Gilenya for Up to 3 Years Can Lead to 50% Drop in Annual Relapse Rates, Real-world Study Says

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Multiple sclerosis patients who began treatment with Gilenya and stayed with it continuously showed a more than 50 percent reduction in annual relapse rates, a real-world study following these people ... Read more

February 14, 2019February 18, 2019

FDA Asked to Place Cannabis-based Therapy for Progressive MS on Fast Track, MMJ Holdings Says

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A request for a potential cannabis-based treatment for multiple sclerosis to be given Fast Track designation, speeding its development as it readies to enter clinical testing, is now before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... Read more

February 13, 2019February 20, 2019

Early-life Antibiotic Use Disrupts Gut Microbiota and Immune System, MS Rat Study Finds

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Early-life use of antibiotics disrupts gut microbiota in a rat model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and provokes nervous system autoimmunity, ultimately aggravating disease severity, new research shows. Results also indicate ... Read more

February 13, 2019February 18, 2019

Almost 1 in 5 People Wrongly Diagnosed with MS at Two Specialized Centers in US, Study Finds

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Almost one in five patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and referred to one of two MS-specialized centers in the U.S. were found to not have the disease, a ... Read more

February 12, 2019February 14, 2019

MMP-9 Protein a Possible Marker of PML in Tysabri-treated RRMS Patients, Study Suggests

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A protein called MMP-9 could be a predictive marker of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy development in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who are being treated with Tysabri (natalizumab), a study suggests. The study, ... Read more

February 12, 2019February 12, 2019

Direct Nerve Stimulation Using MyoRegulator System Seen to Reduce Spasticity in Mice with Spinal Injury

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Treatment with PathMaker Neurosystems’ anodal trans‐spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), a non-invasive direct nerve stimulation tool called MyoRegulator, was found to effectively ease spasticity in mice with spinal cord injury, a ... Read more

February 11, 2019February 14, 2019

Social Cognition Issues Linked to Damage in Specific Brain Region in RRMS Patients, Study Shows

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Issues with social cognition can occur in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients even without the presence of cognitive impairment, and are related to damage in a specific brain region known ... Read more

February 11, 2019February 18, 2019

Petition Urges NHS England to Make Ocrevus Available for PPMS Patients

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More than 21,000 people have signed a petition calling for Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to be made available by the National Health Service (NHS) in England for people with primary progressive ... Read more

February 8, 2019February 12, 2019

Medicare Rules, Higher Cost-sharing Load Increase Out-of-pocket Spending for MS Therapies, Study Reports

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Restrictive access policies by Medicare and a rising cost-sharing burden lead to an increased price of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis patients, according to new research. The findings also revealed ... Read more

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019

#ACTRIMS2019 – Upcoming Forum Will Include Interactive, Case-based Discussion About MS Therapeutic Landscape

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The Physicians’ Education Resource will host an interactive, case-based discussion on the latest therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (MS). The free educational program, part of the 2019 Americas Committee for Treatment and ... Read more

February 7, 2019February 12, 2019

Medical Marijuana ‘Can Help Everyone,’ Says Director at Maryland Cannabis Facility

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Warning the reporter accompanying him not to take any pictures, veteran horticulturalist Michael Castleman punches an electronic code and unlocks the door to Room 209, nicknamed the “Mother Room.” ... Read more

February 7, 2019February 12, 2019

Discovery of Immune Cell Subtypes in Mice is an MS ‘Breakthrough,’ Researcher Says

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Previously unknown immune cell subtypes are present in the inflamed brain of mice models of multiple sclerosis, a new study reports. According to the researchers, these subsets of myeloid cells ... Read more

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019

Innovation Challenge Invites Applications from Entrepreneurs Affected by MS

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A collaborative initiative between Lyfebulb and Celgene — called “Addressing Unmet Needs in MS: An Innovation Challenge” — is inviting applications from U.S.-based entrepreneurs who have multiple sclerosis (MS), or who have been ... Read more

February 6, 2019February 7, 2019

Traditional Dysphagia Therapy Improves Swallowing Function in MS Patients, Pilot Study Shows

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Rehabilitation using traditional dysphagia therapy improved swallowing function in multiple sclerosis patients with dysphagia, a pilot study shows. Traditional dysphagia therapy, also known as TDT, is a potential rehabilitation strategy ... Read more

February 6, 2019February 6, 2019

New Research About RhoE Protein Sheds Light on Two Problematic Processes in MS

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The RhoE protein has been identified as being important for axons’  myelination and extension in the central nervous system, two processes that go awry in diseases like multiple sclerosis ... Read more

February 5, 2019February 6, 2019

Genetic Variants in Inflammasome Genes Influence MS Severity, Progression, Study Suggests

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Genetic variants that enhance the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome or the interleukin-1 beta cytokine are linked to higher severity and progression of multiple sclerosis, a study suggests. Previous studies ... Read more

February 5, 2019February 5, 2019

MS May Raise Risk of Deep-vein Blood Clots, Possibly by Limiting Mobility, Study Says

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People with multiple sclerosis may be twice as likely to develop deep-vein blood clots, a condition known as venous thromboembolism, than healthy people do, a study reports. But data ... Read more

February 4, 2019February 5, 2019

Gait Disorders and Depression at Onset May Delay Time to MS Diagnosis, Study Finds

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Awareness of certain symptoms, particularly gait disorders and depression, could be critical for reducing the time it takes to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) after a patient first contacts a healthcare ... Read more

February 4, 2019February 4, 2019

MS Trust Opens ‘Advanced MS Champions’ Program to Bring Better Care to UK Patients

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Healthcare specialists for multiple sclerosis patients in the U.K. with advanced disease and challenging needs are getting support and recognition through a new program from the MS Trust. Called the Advanced ... Read more

February 1, 2019February 4, 2019

Medication Use in RRMS Patients Highlights Importance of Better Treatment Management, Study Says

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Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), particularly those with multiple conditions who are more severely disabled, are more likely to be using several medications at the same time, a study ... Read more

February 1, 2019February 7, 2019

Study Shows Benefits of Low Temperature Exercise for MS Patients

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Reducing body temperature during physical exercise can help rewire the brain and improve motor control in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new research study at Canada’s Memorial University shows. ... Read more

January 31, 2019February 7, 2019

Anxiety and Depression Linked to Cognitive Issues in MS, Other Diseases, Study Finds

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Anxiety and depression are associated with lower cognitive abilities in patients with multiple sclerosis other and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, a study shows. These ... Read more

January 31, 2019January 31, 2019

MS Patients Sought to Test Alternative Chronic Pain Treatment Methods

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A clinical trial funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is recruiting adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to test two non-pharmacological strategies to manage MS-related chronic pain. The ... Read more

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019

Canadian RRMS Patients Less Likely to Discontinue Treatment with Oral Gilenya, Compared to Injectable or Infusible Therapies

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Canada are more likely to comply with their treatment plan and less likely to discontinue the use of the oral disease-modifying treatment Gilenya (fingolimod), compared ... Read more

January 30, 2019February 5, 2019

Brain Cells Key to Myelin Grown in Lab and Show Long-Term Survival Essential to Research, Study Reports

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Stem cells tweaked in the laboratory have allowed researchers, reportedly for a first time, to generate and maintain ball-shaped cultures — called spheroids — of human brain cells in ... Read more

January 29, 2019January 31, 2019

Gilenya Better at Lowering Relapse Rate than Tecfidera or Aubagio, Study Suggests

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Gilenya is linked to significantly lower annualized relapse rates in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared to Tecfidera or Aubagio, a study suggests. All three therapies showed similar effects on disability ... Read more

January 29, 2019January 30, 2019

Funding Supports MS Research on Epigenetics and Fatigue in Australia

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Australian researchers from the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) have received funding for two projects that will study unexplored areas in multiple sclerosis (MS). The projects, ... Read more

January 28, 2019February 1, 2019

Decline in Brain Volume Driven by Gray Matter Atrophy in MS Patients Despite Tysabri Treatment

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The progressive decline in brain volume in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, despite treatment with the disease-modifying therapy Tysabri (natalizumab), is driven by atrophy — shrinkage due to the degeneration of cells ... Read more

January 28, 2019January 29, 2019

Altered Oligodendrocyte Diversity Contributes to Multiple Sclerosis, Study Suggests

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Subpopulations of oligodendrocytes — cells that produce the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers — are altered in patients with multiple sclerosis, a study shows. These findings suggest that oligodendrocyte ... Read more