living with MS

A Canadian study showed that child-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by increased functional connectivity within the brain, most likely a compensatory effect to preserve function and protect against physical disability. The study, titled “Alterations in Functional and Structural Connectivity in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis,“ was published in the journal …

A new source of stem cells, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from the human periodontal ligament (hPDLSCs), offers a potential treatment capable of halting multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. The study, “Alternative source of stem cells derived from human periodontal ligament: a new treatment for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,” was published…

Gail Pickens-Barger is a doTERRA Elite Wellness Advocate who has been helping students to improve their fitness for 15 years. The yoga instructor is now also dedicated to serving the fitness goals of a particular population — patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating layer (called myelin) that…

In a special feature published in the journal American Health & Drug Benefits, authors Stanton R. Mehr, President of SM Health Communications, and Marj P. Zimmerman, President of RxDirections, discuss the many unmet medical needs multiple sclerosis (MS) patients still face in dealing with the…

You probably haven’t heard of Edward Dowd. I hadn’t until I read about him in the latest issue of the National MS Society’s magazine, Momentum. I learned that Ed is a big-time landlord. The company he founded operates about a thousand rental apartments in the San Francisco area.

A new study investigated the influence of sleep disturbance, fatigue and disability on the quality of life (QOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Health-related QOL measurements are important tools for assessing the impact of a disease on self-reported physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning. Most studies show that QOL is not related to…

A new Canadian study, published in the International Journal of MS Care, has concluded that the majority of patients with concurrent multiple sclerosis (MS) and depression are receiving antidepressant treatment. Despite this, however, many of these patients continue to report depressive symptoms. MS and depression co-occurrence is…

Difficulties with cognitive function and fatigue are the main reasons patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) struggle to stay gainfully employed, a new study published in the December edition of the International Journal of MS Care has found. The study is titled “Factors Associated with Employment Status in Individuals with…

Multiple Sclerosis News Today has reported the latest therapies, clinical trial developments, and events in multiple sclerosis (MS) on a daily basis throughout the past year. As 2015 comes to an end, here are the year’s 10 articles most widely read by  Multiple Sclerosis News Today readers, each with a brief summary of the developments…

A team of researchers from the Netherlands have developed an interactive web-based program called MSmonitor that offers multiple sclerosis patients a way to manage and better integrate the multidisciplinary care they require. Pilot data from a study of its use is detailed in the article, “The interactive web-based program MSmonitor for…

Dr. Bradley Bowser, a South Dakota State University (SDSU) researcher and assistant professor, is investigating whether the practice of exercise, either by itself or together with cognitive behavioral therapy, can effectively improve mobility and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a neurodegenerative condition that often induces…

The holidays can be stressful on everyone, and especially on those with multiple sclerosis (MS). A health specialist is offering these eight suggestions to MS patients and their families as a way to enjoy this season, and to keep it as free as possible of disease flares or symptom worsening. Increased demands on daily routines, travel,…

Takeda Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical company based in Osaka, Japan, recently announced that a widely approved drug treatment for the prevention of relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) is now available in Japan as well. Copaxone, (glatiramer acetate; 20 mg daily subcutaneous injection), developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is an immunomodulatory drug designed to act as…

An interactive event in Coral Gables, FL this weekend will give relapsing Multiple Sclerosis patients who live in the area access to best practices and therapeutic insights that can help them better manage the disease. The Coral Gables MS Exchange event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on…

In a recent study, researchers show how a natural antioxidant within pomegranate seeds is capable of inhibiting demyelination in a mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), supporting novel formulations of natural antioxidants as therapeutics for demyelinating diseases. The study, “Treatment of a multiple sclerosis animal model by a novel nano drop formulation of…

The United Kingdom based Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) recently announced £1.98 million in grants to new MS research projects in different disease-related areas. A panel of experts carefully selected 16 projects to be funded through the MS Society’s 2015 grant round, totaling £1,979,879. All selected projects fulfill the requirements of…

A new report, written jointly by the NHiS Commissioning Excellence and the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Trust, highlights the healthcare costs of emergency hospitalization of MS patients in the United Kingdom and points to more cost-effective and better ways to care for this patient population. The executive summary and full report are…

A new partnership between ARM and HeartToHeart Networks LLC has brought healthcare providers of patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, a new and secure tool for remote health management. The novel health management (RHM) solution combines technology from both companies. It uses mobile devices adapted with a Trusted…

A major new report published by the U.K. MS Trust has determined that the country’s National Health Services (NHS) programs relied on by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) are facing increasing pressures that could lead to inequities in care. Evidence from the Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire based MS Trust’s…

Two upcoming, free events for members of the multiple sclerosis community are to be held during the next few weeks at Coral Gables, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, respectively. Sponsored by the pharmaceutical firm Genzyme, these interactive events will provide opportunities for people with MS and members of the MS community…

Fitbit, a company dedicated to the development of health and fitness products and experiences to help individuals adopt healthier lifestyles, recently announced the FitForGood initiative, a step challenge encouraging Fitbit fans to get fit for a good cause — with their steps translating into funding for three national non-profit organizations:…

A smartphone platform may eventually enable large-scale studies of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other neurologic diseases, according to the findings of a recent study published in the journal Neurology, Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. Smartphones, highly portable and popular, provide a significant opportunity to incorporate information across…

Findings from a recent study published in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy showed that standard approaches to evaluating muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) might be underestimating the patients’ capacities, encouraging clinicians to prescribe less effective exercises. In the study entitled “…

Psychiatric comorbidity is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and affects the MS community more frequently than a matched control population, although the incidence is stable over time, according to recent findings of a study published in the journal Neurology, the Official Journal of the American Academy…

Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS), a non-profit organization that promotes a program based on a scientifically tested diet and lifestyle management with the goal of improving the health status and quality of life of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), recently announced that it will expand into the United States. OMS…

In a new article published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, Korean researchers suggest that diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) might be better studied using compact, accessible chip technology than in current methods. The report, titled “Central Nervous System and its Disease…

Multiple Sclerosis affects more than 600,000 people in Europe. These are some of their stories. Learn more about Multiple Sclerosis here: https://bit.ly/1PBLn0c…

In a recent study published in the International Journal of MS Care, a team of researchers determined that among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue was the most common symptom associated with the decision to leave work or reduce the employment status. According to the researchers, comprehensive…

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on chronic conditions that affect the central nervous system, recently announced results from two non-clinical studies showing that the company’s product candidate ADS-5102 can be potentially applied as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. MS is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative autoimmune…

A new study recently published in the journal PLOS ONE revealed that high intensity exercise is safe and offers clinical benefits for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study is entitled “High Intensity Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis: Effects on Muscle Contractile Characteristics and Exercise…