December 6, 2023 Columns by Mike Parker To obtain an MS diagnosis, I had to overcome my MRI phobia Many years ago, I had an MRI scan on my right knee, and it didnāt go well. In fact, panic set in when I first looked at the scanner, as the tube seemed small. After I lay down and the operator started moving the table, I faced a…
August 30, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New MRI technique effectively maps myelin content in MS brains A new system that can use MRI scans to effectively measure myelin content in brain tissue may help assess the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments. The technique was described in “Quantitative magnetic resonance mapping of the myelin bilayer,” which…
June 16, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MRI method detects myelin repair with over-the-counter antihistamine The over-the-counter antihistamine clemastine has demonstrated an ability to repair myelin, the protective coating on nerve fibers that’s damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of MRI data from the ReBUILD clinical trial. The changes in myelin were examined with a noninvasive MRI method that more…
October 4, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Iron Rim Lesions in Brain Linked to a More Severe Disease Course The presence of iron rim lesions, which are regions of chronic inflammation seen on MRI scans, may be linked to a more severe disease course in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study. The findings suggest the presence and number of iron rim lesions could serve…
September 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS More Microscopic Brain Damage Seen in SPMS Than in RRMS People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) have more microscopic damage in normal-appearing brain tissue than do patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a new imaging study. These patients also have a greater number of chronic active lesions than those with RRMS. “Using advanced diffusion MRI…
July 28, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Calyx, Qynapse to Expand Use of Neuroimaging AI Tools Calyx and Qynapse have joined forces to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based neuroimaging tools in clinical trials of treatment candidates for conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS), or the brain and spinal cord. This is expected to help advance therapy development for multiple sclerosis…
July 7, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Smoking Linked to Worse Outcomes in RRMS Patients After 10 Years Smoking is associated with lower brain volume, more brain lesions, and greater disability and attention deficits among people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after 10 years,Ā according to a study in Norway. “The findings imply that patients should be advised and offered aid in smoking cessation shortly after diagnosis, to…
June 7, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Blood Test to Monitor MS Activity Supports Optimal Care, Octave Says A blood biomarker test developed by Octave can effectively monitor overall disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), helping to improve the care being given, the company reported. The assay, dubbed the MS Disease Activity (MSDA) test, can also be used to monitor disease activity across…
May 26, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Lesions in 3 Brain Regions Can Help Distinguish MS From Like Disorders People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have lesions in three regions of the brain ā the anterior temporal horn, periventricular region, and cerebellar hemisphere ā compared with people with other inflammatory brain diseases, a study reports. Looking for lesions in these parts of the brain may…
March 25, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD MS Research Prize Goes to Barcelona Neurologist A researcher in Barcelona, Spain, has been chosen to receive the 2022 John Dystel Prize for his work advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The $40,000 prize, given jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), will be…
March 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Spinal Cord Atrophy Predicts ‘Silent Progression’ in Early MS A faster rate of atrophy in the spinal cord of people in earlier stages ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) is likely to indicate “silent progression” ā worsening disability in the absence of relapses ā and a swifter conversion to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), new data show. Antje Bischof, MD, with…
February 28, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Iron Rim Lesions Linked to More Severe Disease Iron rim lesions, or specific regions of chronic inflammation seen on MRI scans of the brain, are associated with greater disability and poorer outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study indicates. These findings “could support the use of iron rim lesions as an imaging biomarker for disease severity and…
February 16, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD UK MS Society Investing $1.5M in Support of 9 Research Projects The MS SocietyĀ of the U.K. intends to raise over Ā£1.1 million (about $1.5 million) to support nineĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) research projects, marking the return of the grants program it put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will support research in the…
July 29, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Brain Structures Tied to Worse Memory in Pediatric-onset MS People who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) in childhood have more difficulty recognizing words and faces than healthy individuals, a small study found. The volume of certain structures of the limbic system ā a part of the brain involved in memory and emotion ā is smaller in those with MS,…
July 6, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD US Study: Black Patients Have More Severe Disease Than Whites Blacks with multiple sclerosis (MS) have more severe disease and greater disability at their first visit than white patients, even when differences in socioeconomic status are taken into account, a large U.S. study found. The data showed that Black patients with MS had lower scores on some measures of…
June 2, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Qynapse Announces Research Collaborations for World MS Day Qynapse, a company that combines artificial intelligence with neuroimaging technology, is reaffirming its commitment to help advance multiple sclerosis (MS) research and care in recognition of World MS Day. World MS Day is officially celebrated on May 30, with global events and activities designed to raise disease awareness.
June 26, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye This Week: Brain Scans, Spasticity, Tecfidera Study and Cigarettes In case you missedĀ them, here are some news stories that appeared in MS News Today that caught my eye over the past week. **** Harvard Study Finds No Link Between Clinical Exams and MRIs in Some MS Patients I’m really not surprised…
January 20, 2017 News by Ćzge Ćzkaya, PhD Women in Family with MS Seen to Be at Particular Risk of Developing Disease Family members of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are asymptomatic but at a higher risk of developing the disease themselves are more likely to have early signs of the disease, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology and titled "Assessment of Early Evidence of Multiple Sclerosis in a Prospective Study of Asymptomatic High-Risk Family Members". These people should therefore be closely monitored.