Sharing my truth as one of many stars in the MS universe

Tom Anderson, 67, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at about 30 years old. (Photos courtesy of Tom Anderson) Day 16 of 31 This is Tom Anderson’s story: I may be the dimmest star, but don’t get all hokey on me. There are lots of us. The following are the…

Sterling Hofmeister is pictured here at 6 months, carried in a backpack by his father Ben Hofmeister. (Photos courtesy of Ben Hofmeister) Day 15 of 31 This is Sterling Hofmeister’s story: Sterling Hofmeister, far right, is pictured with his brothers and father in 2018. My name is Sterling…

A group of manufactured chemicals called hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls, or OH-PCBs, which persist in the environment despite a ban on production, are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. In turn, another family of compounds highly resistant to environmental breakdown, called…

Yara Essam takes a selfie in a mirror during one of her many gym sessions. (Photos courtesy of Yara Essam) Day 14 of 31 This is Yara Essam’s story: I’d always been fairly healthy as a child — barely getting sick, eating well, and constantly moving my body. That’s…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who receive anti-CD20 therapies such as Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) are significantly less likely to discontinue their treatment compared with patients who are given other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), a Swiss study has found. Staying on treatment may be related to the effectiveness of B-cell-depleting…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a prefilled syringe format for Ani Pharmaceuticals’ purified Cortrophin Gel that’s expected to reduce the number of steps needed for administering the therapy — used in multiple sclerosis (MS) to treat relapses. The approval means that people with conditions…

When I could still drive, I enjoyed the experience. A car or truck was not just for getting from point A to point B. It was also about the thrill of the journey itself, and I wanted to coax as much as possible from the trip. That meant driving high-performance…

Christy Hoffman poses for a picture with her husband Mike, who has MS. (Photos courtesy of Christy Hoffman) Day 13 of 31 This is Christy Hoffman’s story: Anxious. Blessed. Curious. Daring. Excited. Frustrated. Gregarious. Happy. Isolated. Jovial. Kind. Loving. Moody. Numb. Opinionated. Pumped. Quiet. Restless. Strong. Trusting. Underrated. Valiant.

In the lymph nodes of the neck of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), certain immune cells show abnormalities in activity and signs of reactions against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a new study reports. The findings may help to explain the connection between MS and EBV, researchers said. The study,…

Nanette Lai locks eyes with her chihuahua Fanny. Lai says mutual gazing between humans and dogs can cause synchronization in areas of the brain. (Photos courtesy of Nanette Lai) Day 12 of 31 This is Nanette Lai’s story: My name is Nanette, and I have lived with relapsing-remitting…

Neurons, also called nerve cells, collected from brain lesions of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) were found to accumulate new genetic mutations at a significantly faster rate than healthy neurons did, according to a new report. The researchers also found that neurons in such lesions exhibited distinct mutation…

I spent most of February staring at a blank screen, the blinking cursor mocking me. Despite having a solid idea to convey and a column deadline looming, my brain was stuck in the mud of cognitive fog. I tried to force my mind to cooperate, but it was like trying…

Izzy Abbas loves to go camping, but he also enjoys traveling internationally, Here, he is shown visiting Turkey. (Photos courtesy of Izzy Abbas) Day 11 of 31 This is Izzy Abbas’ story: Camping — being out in the woods and mountains — is something I’ve always loved. Despite all…

Black people with multiple sclerosis (MS) walk more slowly and cover shorter distances over a certain time period than white people with the disease, a study in the U.S. finds. While the differences were somewhat attenuated when other factors that may impact walking ability were considered, such as age,…

In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), lesions that get slowly bigger over time, potentially due to chronic inflammation, are associated with more myelin loss throughout the brain, a study found. Loss of myelin was observed in these slowly expanding lesions, in other types of lesions, and also in regions…

Sarah Zichterman poses for a photo one year after her MS diagnosis. (Photos courtesy of Sarah Zichterman) Day 10 of 31 This is Sarah Zichterman’s story: Getting diagnosed with MS was not something I thought would happen to me at age 24. One day in January 2024, I woke…

Disability progression independent of relapse activity, or PIRA, in the earliest stages of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is associated with worsening quality of life, a study in Sweden shows. PIRA is a form of sustained disability worsening that occurs in the absence of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses. While…

Naty Caez shares about her life with MS on Instagram. (Photos courtesy of Naty Caez) Day 9 of 31 This is Naty Caez’s story: In September 2024, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Everyone’s diagnosis story is going to look a little different, but for me, it took…

Edward Radford gives a thumbs-up while running The Great North Run half-marathon in 2024. (Photos courtesy of Edward Radford) Day 8 of 31 This is Edward Radford’s story: People often say F**k MS, like it’s a battle cry. I get it. For a long time, I saw it that…

Using a simple algorithm to recommend highly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can help make treatment fairer for all patients, and level inequalities otherwise defined by race or ethnicity, a new study by U.S. researchers suggests. Indeed, use of the algorithm over a…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who switch from a high- to a moderate-efficacy disease-modifying therapy (DMT) increase their risk of disease activity, especially younger adults and those having inflammatory disease activity before a switch, a study finds. Knowing these factors “can help guide future studies on deescalation,” researchers…

Amy Behimer sits in a rocking chair in her home. (Photos courtesy of Amy Behimer) Day 7 of 31 This is Amy Behimer’s story: When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), I thought my chance at a healthy, happy life was gone. As a pharmacist,…

The Army took me to a lot of different places around the world, and if I spent enough time in any one of them, I often found myself adopting local customs. In the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq, for example, if circumstances allowed, I usually wore a shemagh, and sometimes…

Anne Rosales is a mother, grandmother, and community volunteer, as well as a certified Aging in Place specialist. She was diagnosed with MS in her mid-50s. (Photos courtesy of Anne Rosales) Day 6 of 31 This is Anne Rosales’ story: My handicap parking placard arrived a few months ago.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who eat more fish are significantly less likely to see confirmed disability progression and the greater the intake, the lower the progression risk, a study in Sweden finds. The dietary habits of patients were assessed at the time of their diagnosis and disability progression…

Note: This story was updated March 6, 2025, to clarify the specific disability measures and results assessed in each trial. Sanofi’s experimental BTK inhibitor tolebrutinib may be more effective at reducing the risk of disability accumulation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have evidence of paramagnetic…

Brittany Boudreau attends the MS Dream Center of Rhode Island’s An Evening to Remember gala. (Photos courtesy of Brittany Boudreau) Day 5 of 31 This is Brittany Boudreau’s story: In August 2021, my life was going according to a plan I’ve had since I was 10. However, two days…

Melinda Livermont, an MS Ambassador with MS4MS, is shown representing for the nonprofit while attending an NHL hockey game. (Photos courtesy of Melinda Livermont) Day 4 of 31 This is Melinda Livermont’s story: After the initial MRI scans, spinal tap, and blood work, hearing the actual words from…

A new model that combines genetic and symptom-based risk scores to predict the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) could help to accelerate the disease’s diagnosis, and allow patients to receive earlier treatment, a team of U.S. researchers noted in a study. In a presentation detailing this work at this…

Proposed revisions to the McDonald criteria, a set of diagnostic guidelines for multiple sclerosis (MS), may help diagnose people who could have been missed under earlier versions, according to a recent analysis. That includes people with radiological-only onset, when there are signs of disease on MRI scans but…