Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Exercise, Diet, and Myelin MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Exercise, Diet, and Myelin by Ed Tobias | April 6, 2020 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Regular Exercise ‘Strongly Recommended’ to Ease Fatigue in MS This may seem like a no-brainer. But once upon a time, neurologists told people with MS to avoid exercise. They told us it would overheat us or make us tired. Over the past few years, this advice has flipped 180 degrees. Now, neuros tells us that some exercise is OK. I’m a 71-year-old with an EDSS of 6.5. I try to exercise a couple of times a week, doing upper body work and time on a recumbent bike, and I believe it helps keep me mentally sharp, less tired, and in good shape. I’m living proof of this study. Physical exercise can ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and potentially benefit them in many other ways, and should be part of rehabilitation programs for patients, a large review study suggests. The study, “The impact of physical exercise on the fatigue symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in the journal BMC Neurology. Click here to read the full story. *** Diets of MS Patients in Spain Seen to Favor Fats, Proteins, and Inflammation Too few carbs (fruits, veggies, and nuts) and too much protein (meats and fish) and lipids (butter, oil, and cheese) has been my diet all my life. Is my diet connected to my MS? This study doesn’t draw a strong link, but it’s an interesting read for those who think there is, or may be, a connection. A study from Spain found the diet of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to contain more fat and protein, and fewer carbohydrates, than recommended, which was linked to abdominal weight gain and higher levels of inflammation. As “an excessive intake of lipids” is known to be “related to oxidative stress and inflammation,” one of the “practical outcomes” of this study could be new dietary guidelines that stress lesser fat consumption, its researchers said. Click here to read the full story. *** Way of Getting Nerve Cells to Restore Myelin-like Abilities Seen as Possible In all candor, the process this article describes is a little scientifically deep for me. But the idea of using a synthetic material to create artificial myelin seems very interesting — if you can understand it. Researchers developed a way of reprograming cells to use synthetic materials — provided by the team — to create artificial, working structures within or about the cells. This approach may be a way to reprogram nerve cells to produce myelin-like protective polymers — large molecules made of many repeating units — around their axons to overcome the loss of myelin that marks multiple sclerosis (MS). Click here to read the full story. *** Myelin Health Depends on Steady Supply of Lipids, Study Suggests While we’re on the subject of myelin, here’s a story that I can understand. Conventional scientific wisdom has said that myelin is pretty much static, that the process of creating myelin is a slow process. But this study suggests the opposite, that myelin is a very dynamic substance, and continuous lipid production is needed to maintain its health. Continuous production of fatty molecules (lipids) is crucial to the maintenance of the myelin sheath that wraps nerve fibers to protect them, ensuring the transmission of electrical impulses between nerve cells, a study reported. These findings may have strong implications for treating disorders caused by myelin loss, including multiple sclerosis (MS), and potentially for cancer, as some chemotherapy agents are known to damage myelin. Click here to read the full story. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. He’s also the author of “The Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.” Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Florida’s Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags diet and MS, exercise and MS, myelin Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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