MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Sexual Problems in Women with MS; Aubagio Satisfaction; Cellular Aging and PPMS

Women with MS Have Higher Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction, Study Reveals

I’m surprised that someone felt it necessary to conduct a formal study of this. A glance at multiple sclerosis (MS) groups on social media, although unscientific, would suggest that this is a common problem. And if you’re going to do a study, why limit it to women? A lot of guys with MS have problems in this area, too.

Women with multiple sclerosis are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction and sexual distress than those without the disease, a study reports.

The high prevalence of sexual problems among these women may be linked to their age, degree of physical disability, and depression, according to researchers.

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Relapsing MS Patients Highly Satisfied with Aubagio’s Efficacy and Ease of Use, Global Clinical Study Finds

The results of this study don’t surprise me. I was treated with Aubagio (teriflunomide) and was very satisfied with it. Take note, however, that each of the study’s 10 authors is either an employee of Sanofi Genzyme, the company that makes Aubagio, or has received consulting fees from it.

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High levels of satisfaction with the efficacy and convenience of Aubagio (teriflunomide), an oral treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis, were reported by patients across the U.S. and 13 other countries, a post-hoc analysis of data from a real-world Phase 4 study found.

The study, “Teriflunomide real-world evidence: Global differences in the phase 4 Teri-PRO study,” was published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

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Cellular Senescence Implicated in MS Development, Study Suggests

This complex, multistep study suggests that cells that age prematurely may play a part in the progression of primary progressive MS. It’s a tough, but interesting, read.

Cellular senescence — the process of aging at the cellular level — may play a role in the development of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) by limiting the ability of myelin-producing cells (oligodendrocytes) to renew and mature.

The study with that finding, “Cellular senescence in progenitor cells contributes to diminished remyelination potential in progressive multiple sclerosis,” was published in the journal PNAS.

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