February 13, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Computational model captures multiple sclerosis, genes to organism An international team of scientists has created a computational model that seeks to give a picture of multiple sclerosis (MS) at multiple biological scales, from tiny molecules to whole cells to organs and its effects on the body overall. āIn this study we have…
November 12, 2019 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Long-term IFN-Beta Treatment Normalizes Immune Balance in RRMS, Study Shows Long-term treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta) corrects the defective immune balance characteristic of people withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), a study has found. The study also identified more than 200 genes with significantly different activity between complete and partial responders to IFN-beta treatment, which could be used to identify which…
June 11, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study Identifies Possible Genetic Causes of MS Scientists are zeroing in on mutations in a few genes that appear to be major risk factors for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The results of their research suggest there are common biological pathways that cause the disease. The study, “Exome sequencing in multiple sclerosis families identifies 12…
November 15, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD MS-specific Lineage of Oligodendrocytes May Provide New Hints on MS Development The cells that produce myelin in the brain and spinal cord, called oligodendrocytes, may play an active role in the onset or progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study combining data from MS mouse models and the human brain. This discovery supports the…
October 24, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Rare Mutations Affecting Immune System and MS Risk Identified in Large Study An international consortium studying more than 68,000 people, about half of themĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, found rare genetic variations that account for up to 5 percent of the heritable MS risk, a study reports. The newly discovered mutations were associated with either an increased…
October 8, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: aHSCT and Fatigue, What’s Hot at ECTRIMS?, Genes that May Impact MS Lower Fatigue Reported by MS Patients After aHSCT in Canadian Study Fatigue affects 90 percent of people with MS. It certainly impacts my life. This study, though very small, reports a 36 percent reduction in the median modified Fatigue Impact Scale (mFIS) score three years after autologous…
October 8, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto National MS Society Awards $12M to 40 Research Projects in US and Elsewhere The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)Ā has pledged $12 million to support 40 new, multi-year research projects focused on āstopping MS, restoring lost function, and ending the disease forever,ā the organization announced in a press release. This commitment ā the last allocation set aside for research in 2018 ā…
April 24, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #AAN2018 – High Fish Consumption Linked to Lower MS Risk A diet rich in fish consumption and supplemented with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acidsĀ (PUFAs) is linked to a reduction of 45 percent in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, a study shows. The results confirming previous research will be shared April 26 at theĀ 2018 Annual MeetingĀ of theĀ American Academy of…
May 18, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Obesity and Poor Vitamin D Levels Tied to Risk of Childhood MS in Study A study of nearly 600 children with multiple sclerosis reportedĀ that genes linked to low vitamin D levels and obesity contribute to the risk of developing MSĀ in childhood. While the two are also risk factors for adult-onset MS, obesity and low vitamin D have a larger risk impact on childrenĀ thanĀ adults. The…
May 11, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National Multiple Sclerosis Society Commits to $17 Million for 43 Research Projects The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ is pumping $17 million intoĀ 43 research projectsĀ that represent almost half of its $40-million research funding commitment in 2017. Among the projectsĀ are trials evaluating intermittent fasting as a way to harness inflammation and stem cell research. A growing number of studies indicate thatĀ stem cells can slow…
February 23, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #ACTRIMS2017 – Early MS Evidence Found in Asymptomatic First-degree Relatives of Patients First-degree relativesĀ of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may develop asymptomatic disease, suggesting the need to further evaluate family members to develop timely prevention strategies. The study,Ā āInvestigating early evidence of multiple sclerosis in a prospective study of high risk family members,ā was presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and…
January 26, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Genes That Influence Physical Traits May Be Reason MS More Common in Women The key to why more women than men develop multiple sclerosis (MS) may be genes that influence physical traits, such as weight, height, and body shape, according to a new study. Researchers caution that the findings need to be verified, but they said processes leading to disease may differ between…
June 3, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – Online Atlas Links Cell Characteristics to Genes for Stem Cell Research The use of induced pluripotent stem cells to create disease-specific neurons and oligodendrocytes for the study of multiple sclerosis (MS) is hampered by the huge variability of features such cells possess. To getĀ around this problem, researchers from Ohio State University created an atlas of how cell characteristics are linked…