April 4, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Improved fatty acid profiles tied to cognitive gains with two MS diets The Swank and Wahls diets, which are used by people with multiple sclerosis (MS), were associated with improvements in cognition and fatty acid blood profiles in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, according to new analyses from the WAVES trial. Changes in omega-3 fatty acids after about three months correlated…
March 5, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS ACTRIMS 2024: Progressive MS patients show gains in NG-01 OLE Repeated treatment with the mesenchymal stem cell therapy NG-01 led to gains in mobility and cognition, along with patient-reported quality of life, for most people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in an extension study. Markers of nerve damage were also reduced, indicating significant nerve-protecting effects. Dimitrios Karussis, MD,…
October 25, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Low vitamin D blood levels tied to poorer cognition, greater disability Low blood levels of vitamin D are tied to poorer cognitive skills and more severe disability in people with multiple sclerosis, researchers in Italy report. āOur study showed that [vitamin D] levels are associated with cognitive function in MS, as already well demonstrated in the general population and in…
September 21, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Rehabilitation in progressive MS found to help cognitive function Two non-pharmacological rehabilitation approaches ā one using a computer program designed to improve working memory and the other involving standardized cognitive-behavioral group sessions ā both improved the cognitive function of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reported. While varying medications often are used as…
April 11, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Lemtrada aids cognitive skills, eases depression in real-world MS study One year of treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) significantly improved cognitive abilities, particularly with processing speed, and eased depression in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a small real-world study reported. Most of the 39 patients (92%) evaluated after that treatment year showed either stable or improved…
February 24, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Bryostatin-1, Molecule to Protect Synapses, May Move Into MS Trials SynaptogenixĀ announced plans to advance bryostatin-1, its lead candidate, into clinical trials forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), marking the third neurological disease the small molecule therapy is being developed to potentially treat. āMultiple sclerosis joins Alzheimer’s disease (“AD”) and Fragile X syndrome as our third indication with potential clinical…
June 8, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Robotic Exoskeleton Intervention Improves Motor, Cognitive Function Four weeks of robotic exoskeleton-assisted exercise rehabilitation, called REAER, worked better than conventional gait training in improving mobility and cognitive function in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients with substantial walking difficulties, according to a small trial. A robotic exoskeleton consists of an externally worn device that encases a userās hips, back,…
May 28, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD At-home Brain Stimulation Program Now Available New York University (NYU) Langone Health has launched an at-home, therapeutic program of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) ā a type of non-invasive brain stimulation ā to reduce cognitive, motor, speech, or mood symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain disorders. A first of its kind, the…
March 18, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD More Trials Needed to Clarify Benefits of Alzheimerās Therapy Memantine in MS Treatment of up to a year with memantine ā an approved therapy forĀ Alzheimerās diseaseĀ ā failed to prevent cognitive decline and disability, and to significantly reduce fatigue and spasticity in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), a review of published studies shows. The therapy, soldĀ under the brand nameĀ Namenda, works…
March 15, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD Ampyra Aids More Than Walking in MS, But Side Effects May Be of Concern Treatment with oralĀ Ampyra (dalfampridine) improves walking ability, finger dexterity, and cognition in people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), an analysis of nine randomized clinical trials shows. But the investigators caution the therapy should be taken only under expert medical guidance, due to its higher rate of potential side effects. The…
December 18, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Mayzent Aids Cognitive Processing Speed in SPMS Patients, Trial Suggests Mayzent (siponimod) significantly improved cognitive processing speed in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) compared with a placebo, according to additional analyses ofĀ two-year data from the EXPAND Phase 3 trial. While…
October 7, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Differences Found in Brain Connectivity in RRMS Patients During Visual Task Connectivity between parts of the brain related to vision and attention is altered in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), both during rest and while actively engaged in a task, a new study indicates. The study, “Altered brain network function during attention-modulated visual processing in multiple…
July 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cognitive Health Tests Given Online Show ‘Promise’ in Study Assessing the cognitive health of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be performed using online telehealth, with results similar to in-person testing, researchers working with a patient group reported. “By assessing memory in patients prior to a clinic visitĀ using a web-based approach, we may be able to meetĀ the…
March 10, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD Researchers Study Cognitive Decline in Older MS Patients for Alzheimer’s Link As multiple sclerosis (MS) patients live longer, researchers have observed similarities between changes in their brains and in the brains of Alzheimer‘s patients, a study found. Understanding whether these changes are the result of worsening MS-related neurodegeneration or co-occuring (comorbid) Alzheimerās disease will help guide better treatment…
February 21, 2020 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Spanish Modified Story Memory Technique Improves Cognitive Performance in Mexican Patients with MS, Study Says The Spanish version of the modified Story Memory Technique improves learning and life satisfaction of Mexican patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests.Ā The tool, developed by the Kessler Foundation, has the potential to address the lack of cognitive rehabilitation interventions that are culturally…
September 26, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New App May Help Measure Cognitive Function in MS Patients, Study Reports A new app might make it easier for healthcare providers to assess cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The app was described in the study, “iCAMS: Assessing the Reliability of a BICAMS Tablet Application,” published in the International Journal of MS…
June 20, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Childhood MS Linked to Greater Cognitive Impairment in Adulthood, Study Finds People with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) have a greater decline in cognitive function, and are more likely to experience cognitive impairment in adulthood, than those whose disease began when they were adults, a study reports. The study, “Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Pediatric-Onset vs Adult-Onset…
November 2, 2018 Columns by Jamie Hughes Turning Information Overload into a Positive Books. Magazines. Journals. Emails. Online articles. Newsletters. Podcasts. Local and cableĀ news. The quantity of information we take in daily is impressive ā overwhelming, even. According to a 2009 report from researchers at the University of California, San Diego, the average American consumed about 105,000 words per day, or…
October 18, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD #ECTRIMS2018 ā High Vitamin D Levels, Smoking Predict Opposite Effects on Cognition in CIS Patients, Study Suggests High vitamin D levels predict better cognitive function, while smoking is associated with worse long-term cognitive disability in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a study suggests. Data from the study was presented by MariannaĀ Cortese, MD, PhD, from the Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan…
May 3, 2018 Columns by Laura Kolaczkowski Ocrevus Shows Promise for Cognitive Function in Relapsing MS One thing weāve all hoped for with our disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is a treatment that will improve our multiple sclerosis (MS) and not just keep it from worsening. The latest studies presented on Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) hold promise that this treatment may have finally arrived. According to recent reports,…
April 16, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc SPMS Patients Have More Cognitive Decline Than Those with RRMS, Study Reports People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) have more cognitive decline than those with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), according to a Greek study. The finding confirmed a long-held assumption that the more progressive form of the disease ā SPMS ā also involves more cognition problems. Some previous research has confirmed that…
March 6, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Ride Doesn’t Stop: MS-related Emotions Revisited āWhat is wrong with you?” I have been asked this question numerous times by significant people in my life. The most recent was a few days ago. The question usually occurs during the times I have an emotional āmeltdown.ā Whenever I hear it, I get defensive, thinking that I…
February 8, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #ACTRIMS2018 – Ampyra Also Aids Cognition, Use of Extremities in MS Patients Ampyra (dalfampridine), approved to treat walking difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, also helps with cognition and movement in the upper and lower extremities, according to a recent scientific presentation. These findings were reported at the 3rd Annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2018Ā in…
January 2, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc MS Patients’ Handwriting Ability Correlates with Movement, Sensory and Cognitive Impairment, Study Shows A deterioration in multiple sclerosis patients' handwriting aligns with drops in their movement, sensory and cognitive skills, a study reports. MS includes loss of hand dexterity and finger movement control. This affects a patient's capacity to manipulate objects and coordinate hand movement, skills needed in handwriting. Previous studies have shown that MS patients had less handwriting rhythm and control than healthy people. This time researchers decided to compare theĀ handwriting movements of both MS patients and healthy volunteers. The research involved 19 MS patients and 22 healthy age-matched controls. The team asked participants to write a specific sentence on a digitizing tablet. They discovered that the way MS patients wrote was much different than those of the controls. The patients took a lot longer to write each word and to achieve spacing between words. This led to them taking a much longer time overall to write a sentence than healthy people. In addition, analysis of handwriting strokes showed that MS patients' writing wasn't as smooth as that of healthy people. Researchers also found a correlation between patientsā movement abilities and cognitive status on the one hand and their handwriting ability on the other. The team said it believed āthese findings might be very useful when planning rehabilitative task-oriented interventions focused on handwriting abilities.ā In fact, rehabilitation specialists should consider evaluating āboth the motor movement and the cognitive status of PwMS [patients with MS] in order to tailor the intervention."
June 8, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD High-dose Simvastatin Improves Cognitive Function in MS, New Analysis of Trial Results Reports A high daily dose of simvastatinĀ improves multiple sclerosis patients’ cognitive function, according to a new analysis of Phase 2 clinical trial results. The British team that did the research will start a study soon on whether simvastatin, which goes by the brand name ZocorĀ and other labels, can also slow…
February 21, 2017 Social Clips by Marta Ribeiro What is Brain Fog? Brain fog is one of the most common symptoms of many chronic illnesses, includingĀ lupus, multiple sclerosis andĀ fibromyalgia. In this Mind Over Meniere’s video, Glenn describes how brain fog affects him on a daily basis. Discover some Pilates exercises suitable for multiple sclerosis patients.Ā Brain fog is more…
February 2, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Computer-assisted Therapy Found to Benefit MS Patients with Cognitive Difficulties Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are showing signs of cognitive impairment mayĀ benefit from computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation programs, according to a new study. Difficulties with short-term memory, or withĀ processing informationĀ and concentrating, are believed toĀ affect 40% to 65% of MS patients.Ā Studies have suggested that cognitive rehabilitation may help, and thatĀ computer-assisted therapy used…
June 22, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Poor Physical and Cognitive Skills in MS Patients Linked to Cerebral Microbleeds As we age, the risk that small blood vessels will start leaking into brain tissue increases, raising ourĀ risk ofĀ dementia, stroke, and Parkinsonās disease. New research reveals that peopleĀ with multiple sclerosis (MS) also have these so-called cerebral microbleeds, andĀ links them to increasedĀ physical and cognitive disability. When Robert Zivadinov, a professor of…
June 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Merck Joins with HAPPYneuron to Add Cognitive Training Games to MSdialog Merck Biopharma Ā announced it has entered intoĀ aĀ partnership with a French subsidiary calledĀ HAPPYneuron,Ā and now hasĀ an exclusive license to that companyās cognitiveĀ remediation training program for multiple sclerosis (MS).Ā The program, a series of brain training games and exercises, will be made available to people needing itĀ throughĀ Merck’s MSdialog platform. An e-Health…
June 3, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Visual Assessment May Provide Information on Cognitive Function in MS Patients Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found that visual function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients correlates with cognitive function ands suggests that disease severity and outcomes of neuroprotective therapies in MS patients may be assessed through visual function measurements. The findings were recently presentedĀ in the oral presentation “…