March 25, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Astrocytes, much like immune cells, can drive inflammation in MS A subset of astrocytes ā a type of support cell for the central nervous systemĀ ā has a form of immune-related memory that might contribute to a worsening of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research. Much like immune cells, these astrocytes can remember inflammatory stimuli that they previously have…
February 9, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Crocin supplement seen to reduce signs of inflammation in MS Taking a two-month supplement of crocin, an antioxidant found in the cooking spice saffron, helped to reduce signs of inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who took part in a small study in Iran. However, crocin had no effect on symptoms of depression or anxiety compared with a…
December 22, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD In pilot trial, Ocrevus failed to reduce MS inflammation in meninges Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) did not significantly reduce the number or volume of inflammatory lesions in the meninges in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent pilot study. While inflammation in the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, is thought to be driven…
September 19, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Taking sugar molecule supplements may help ease inflammation in MS Taking supplements of the sugar molecule N-acetylglucosamine, known as GlcNAc, was found to decrease markers of inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a small clinical trial. Moreover, nearly a third of trial participants reported less severe disability following a month of daily GlcNAc supplements. However, because this…
August 9, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New PET imaging approach captures inflammation before lesions evident A new imaging technique was able to detect inflammation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) before disease symptoms appeared, and to monitor the animals’ responses to treatment, a study reports. “With this new non-invasive imaging approach, we can detect toxic inflammation that could help us better understand…
May 11, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Nanocapsules with retinoic acid may treat MS inflammation: Study Modified nanocapsules containing retinoic acid can suppress inflammation and prompt the growth of cellsĀ that produce nerve fibers’ myelin coating, which is lost in multiple sclerosis (MS), a cell-based study shows. The results demonstrated how lipid (fat) nanocapsules that contain medicines can access the brain and treat the two…
May 8, 2023 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Myeloid cells with added ‘backpack’ may help halt MS inflammation Attaching a kind of molecule backpack to myeloid cells ā a type of immune cells involved in the inflammatory attack that drives multiple sclerosis (MS) ā may help to halt inflammation and damage in the brain in MS by modulating immune cell activity, a study…
February 16, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Omega-3 fatty acid reduced disease severity in MS mouse model Treatment with docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, reduced inflammation and disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings suggest that “an increase of omega-3 consumption may be beneficial to patients diagnosed with MS,” researchers said. “We believe our findings…