Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Epstein-Barr, Aqua Exercise, Diagnosing SPMS, Myelin Repair MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Epstein-Barr, Aqua Exercise, Diagnosing SPMS, Myelin Repair The week's top MS news includes a study looking at infectious mononucleosis and MS, writes Ed Tobias by Ed Tobias | August 29, 2022 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Epstein-Barr Virus and MS Risk: New Link to Mono Found in Study Add this study to the mounting evidence that there’s some type of association between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ā the virus associated with mononucleosis ā and multiple sclerosis. I’ve never had mono, but several people with MS who post on our MS News Today Facebook page say they have. People who had infectious mononucleosis ā a contagious disease for which the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the leading cause ā had a higher incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the 10 years following diagnosis compared with individuals not diagnosed with the virus, a study found. This link was particularly strong for patients diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as mono, between the ages of 14 and 20. Recommended Reading August 5, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias New Service Takes a Shark-size Bite out of Medication Costs *** Aquatic Exercise Found to Ease Fatigue, Improve Balance in MS I agree ā my overall health is better when I swim or walk in the pool a few times a week. For me, any kind of regular exercise helps ease a number of my symptoms. Aquatic exercise therapy can help to ease fatigue and improve balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), without notable side effects, according to a review of published studies. These findings have important implications for MS patients, as fatigue is among the main symptoms of the disease and can severely impact quality of life. *** Algorithm May Help Define SPMS; āGold Standardā Still Neurologist If your diagnosis is secondary progressive MS, I’ll bet you can’t say with any precision when you progressed to it from relapsing-remitting MS. I know I can’t. There is no test for this. Maybe this algorithm will help make that determination. But what’s in a name anyway? Does anyone ā other than insurance companies, perhaps ā care what your MS is called? A data-driven algorithm may be useful for defining the sometimes unclear transition from relapsing-remitting (RRMS) to secondary progressive (SPMS) forms of multiple sclerosis, a study found. The study, āTowards a validated definition of the clinical transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A study from the Italian MS Register,ā was published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.Ā *** MS Spasticity Therapy Baclofen Helps to Repair Myelin: Study Repair of the myelin coating of our nerves, which when damaged is partially responsible for MS symptoms, is a researcher’s holy grail. How nice it would be if something as readily available and inexpensive as baclofen could accomplish this. But this was just a mouse study, and researchers say other studies are needed to see whether actual people with MS show evidence of enhanced remyelination. Baclofen, an approved therapy for spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, promoted the repair of myelin ā the protective sheath around nerve fibers thatās progressively lost in MS ā in a mouse model of the disease, a study showed. These findings suggest baclofen ā sold as oral tablets, oral solution, and injectable formulations ā may be a potential therapeutic approach to stimulate myelin repair in people with MS, the researchers noted. Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ 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 ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ or its parent company, BioNews, 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. Heās also the author of āThe Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.ā Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Floridaās Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags Epstein-Barr virus, MS News Comments Fisch Romain Hi Ed, following MS-News for a couple of years, I suggest you to pay some attention about a new ALS-therapy. I read in article about in the German newspaper DER SPIEGEL (https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/medizin/als-heilung-eingesperrt-im-eigenen-koerper-und-wieder-befreit-a-add65e6f-6ac9-448d-8adb-2fe4be7e4099 behind paywal). The drug is called ION363 or JaciFUSen seems to work on a well particular gene (called FUS-Gene) and shall be able to rebuild the terminating nerves and Myelin. Best regards and greetings from Luxembourg (the tiny little country between Germany, France an Belgium Romain Reply Susana Hi Thank you Romain for the information. It sounds groundbreaking although not sure how long will have to wait. Every second counts because its constant inflammation. This disease does not shut its eyes when we go to sleep. Thank you Reply Ed Tobias Hi Fisch, Thanks for passing along the info about ION363. I'll see if I can find some info about it that's in English and not behind a paywall. BTW, I know where Luxembourg is. I'm a ham radio operator so I have a pretty good sense of world geography. I've not had the opportunity to visit, I'm sorry to say, even though I've been to Belgium, France and Germany. But I'm not yet done traveling...so maybe someday. Ed Reply Jen Ed, you don't have to have had mono/glandular fever. 95% of the population have the antibodies -- it might have been asymptomatic. What they're saying is that you can't get MS without having the antibodies and an EBV vaccine would spell the end of MS in the future. Reply Ed Tobias Hi Jen - You're right, of course. I'm sorry I wasn't clear about that when I mentioned I never had mono. Thanks for the catch. Ed Reply 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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