Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias MS news notes: Tysabri biosimilar, diet, cognitive rehab, aging MS news notes: Tysabri biosimilar, diet, cognitive rehab, aging Columnist Ed Tobias comments on the week's top MS news by Ed Tobias | February 6, 2023 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Welcome to āMS News Notes,ā a weekly Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Hereās a look at whatās been happening: Tysabri biosimilar on the horizon Tysabri (natalizumab) is a very effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for people with MS. I was treated with it for about seven years and did very well. But, as is the case with most DMTs, it’s expensive. Now, as Marisa Wexler reports in “Biosimilar Comparable in Safety, Efficacy to Tysabri in Phase 3 Trial,” data from a Phase 3 clinical trial shows positive news about an experimental medication that might compete with Tysabri at a lower cost. Recommended Reading January 13, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Pheno, UCB Team Up to Bring New Remyelination Therapies to Trial Coconut oil, green tea, and the Mediterranean diet The Mediterranean diet is used by a number of people with MS to try to lessen their symptoms and improve their overall health. In the story “Coconut Oil and Green Tea Lead to Gait, Balance Gains in MS Patients,” Lindsey Shapiro reports that after spending four months on this diet, the endurance of test subjects improved. But adding coconut oil and green tea provided an added benefit of improved balance and gait. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society notes that “there is no definitive diet that has been scientifically proven to be beneficial in changing the course of MS,” and I’m not a big diet fan, but the Mediterranean diet, plus this supplement combination, seems worthy of consideration. What do you think? Please share in the comments below. Nondrug treatments to curb cognitive decline Mindfulness uses a combination of things like yoga, meditation, music, stretching, and group support to reduce stress. Cognitive rehabilitation theory uses work and similar activities to improve a personās ability to perform cognitive tasks. As Steve Bryson writes in “MS Cognitive Problems Can Ease With Rehab, Mindfulness Training,” a recent clinical trial found both strategies to be helpful to patients, although the study also found that most benefits were lost within six months of the end of the sessions. Have you had any experience with mindfulness or cognitive rehabilitation theory to manage your cognitive problems? A best practices initiative for older people with MS At 74, I’m an older person with MS. I’ve lived with MS since I was 32, but now I’m at an age where most people are ignored when it comes to studies and new treatments. So I’m thrilled to see a new program that focuses on people like me. As Mary Chapman describes in “Aging MS Patients Are Focus of UT Dell Medical School Initiative,” researchers at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School plan to hold focus groups to determine how older patients want their care structured and delivered. Sign me up! Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice,Ā diagnosis, orĀ 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 MS News 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