I mentioned last week that I had been in the hospital recently with pneumonia and promised to elaborate. Without further ado or any gross details, I give you my recent tale of woe. As with many of my experiences, may it serve as a warning of what not to do.
comorbidities
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have higher levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mouth — bacteria that can contribute to periodontitis, a serious gum infection — may be more likely to experience more severe symptoms, according to a study from Japan. This finding adds to recent preclinical evidence…
I am a 63-year-old psychologist, clinician, professor, and poster child for multiple sclerosis (MS). After more than 30 years with the disease, I’m still mobile, sometimes with a cane. My speech isn’t impaired, though my volume is, and my memory is taking a nosedive. I have no working taste…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have altered levels of bacteria in their mouths, with reduced levels of normal healthy bacteria and higher levels of bacteria that can cause disease, a new study reports. “Your mouth may reveal more about your overall health than you think,” Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD, senior…
Seizures in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be driven by changes in levels of certain brain signaling molecules, implying that targeting these molecules may be a viable strategy to treat MS-related seizures, according to new research done in a mouse model. “If the same transporters and receptors are…
While certain autoimmune diseases are linked to an increased risk of digestive system cancers, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be less likely to develop some of these malignancies, according to an analysis of published studies. Researchers found that MS patients are at lower risk of developing pancreatic, esophageal,…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are significantly more likely to visit an emergency department if they have other health problems, aren’t on disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), or have public or no insurance, according to a study at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Although ED [emergency department] visits for MS…
Multiple sclerosis (MS) may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new analysis of genetic data. The findings indicate genetic changes that influence the activity of immune T-cells may play a role in both MS and Alzheimer’s. The study, “Multiple sclerosis…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a significantly greater risk of developing dementia compared with the general population, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis. Of nearly 38,000 MS patients assessed across 10 published studies, about 5% had a diagnosis of dementia. The prevalence was particularly high in…
The use of B-cell depleting therapies does not increase the risk of an infection with COVID-19 among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have been vaccinated, according to the findings of a new study by U.S. researchers. While such treatments did compromise the body’s ability to develop antibodies against…
Cognitive symptoms, mood disorders, and fatigue manifest differently in relapsing-remitting and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study found. “[O]ur results indicate that the subtype of MS is associated with … specific kinds of cognitive deficits, suggesting the need for subtype-specific therapeutic interventions,” the France-based research team…
The signaling molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is involved in inflammation, is associated with increasing frailty in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study from researchers in China reported. Elevated levels of IL-6 significantly correlated with higher scores on a frailty index that measures health deficits across multiple domains,…
I had a visit with a local cardiologist recently. Since my 2017 retirement from the Army, I’ve had most of my medical care at the Department of Veterans Affairs and haven’t been to this particular practice for about eight years. Fortunately, the people there still remembered me. Unfortunately, the provider…
Cognitive impairment is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have not previously received treatment, affecting about 1 in 4 patients, and rates are particularly higher in those with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), a new study found. “The current study demonstrates that a significant portion of MS…
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,…
Immune cells from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit distinct gene activity just before patients have a disease relapse, according to recent research. The observed immune perturbations, which are no longer observed by the time the relapse is actively underway, are consistent with the body’s response to a reactivation…
Higher cholesterol levels are associated with worse cognitive impairments in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study reported. The findings imply that medications or lifestyle changes that reduce cholesterol levels may be useful for addressing MS cognitive impairment, researchers said. The study, “Lipid measures are associated…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are primarily admitted to the hospital due to urinary tract infections, which indicates that bladder problems need to be better managed in this population, a study shows. Neurological problems without an identifiable cause came second among the reasons for admission to a hospital,…
Increased production of cholesterol by stem cells in the brain contributes to neurological damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study conducted in lab-grown cells. Findings suggest cholesterol-lowering medications can reverse this damage, implying such treatments might be able to be repurposed for MS. “Cholesterol metabolism has…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have multiple comorbidities, or co-occurring health problems, are more likely to experience disease activity and disability progression, according to a new analysis. Results indicate the risk of MS disease activity rises in patients who have at least one psychiatric diagnosis, as well as…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a slightly higher cancer risk than the general population, according to a recent study in France that reviewed a decade of data from more than 140,000 MS patients. The risk of bladder, brain, cervical, and kidney cancer was significantly increased in MS…
Migraines are quite an experience. People who have them wish they didn’t. I occasionally do, but I’m hesitant to compare myself with others. I’m even reluctant to use the word “migraine” to describe mine, because while I have many of the symptoms of a migraine, I don’t have any…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are about half as likely as those without the disease to have signs of the amyloid-beta plaques in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study in the U.S. “Our findings imply that some component of the biology…
About a third of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) exhibit cognitive impairments, according to a review by Australian researchers of 50 previously published studies. The findings suggest that cognitive issues might be somewhat less common in RRMS than previous reports have indicated, with prior estimates ranging from approximately…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have elevated immune responses to more proteins of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) than previously thought, according to a new study. EBV-specific immune T-cells isolated from MS patients could also respond to multiple proteins found in the brain, particularly those associated with myelin,…
A large proportion of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience headaches as a result of their condition, and treatment with interferon-based therapies seems to increase the risk of worsening headaches or developing new ones, a study found. In contrast, the CD20 antibody rituximab that’s used off-label in MS…
I have a doctor’s appointment coming up soon. It isn’t with my neurologist or another specialist. It’s a routine visit with my primary care physician and, other than the regular schedule, isn’t really routine at all. There’s a lot more to me than my multiple sclerosis (MS), a fact…
Dormant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) becomes activated during periods of disease relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) and triggers inflammatory activity in multiple types of immune cells, a study suggested. Blocking EBV activation can reduce the inflammatory activity of immune cells, supporting the idea that targeting the dormant virus may…
The risk of having a stroke, that is, a blockage in blood flow to the brain that can cause lasting damage, is about 2.5 times higher in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than the general population, a review of multiple studies finds. The researchers called for further studies to…
Nearly half of all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who participated in clinical trials — including global, pivotal studies — had one or more comorbidities, or coexisting conditions, the most common being depression and high blood pressure, a meta-analysis study found. While the rate of patients with comorbidities “may be…