living with MS

A recent report by Marie Curie fellows organization suggests that those suffering from neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis are missing out on care that could make a major difference in the quality of their lives. When it comes to palliative care, the report contends that there is a limited understanding about the need…

New Zealanders Neil Barnett and Russell Watts, who are both living with Multiple Sclerosis, will join the crew sailing the 67-foot sloop Oceans of Hope on the Darwin, Australia to Singapore leg of its round-the-world voyage to change popular perceptions regarding MS. Mssrs. Barnett and Watts were welcomed aboard the yacht…

“MS” is a documentary film released last year that tells the story of three patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) and how they deal with the chronic debilitating disease. The director of the film recently announced that the short documentary has been made available on YouTube in…

MS Views and News (MSVN) is a non-profit organization that works at collecting, presenting and distributing information about multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as improving knowledge and education among patients and other members of the MS community. During July, MS Views and News will host four events featuring medical…

In women of childbearing age, low vitamin D levels are a common issue often resulting from low intake of vitamin D (in food) and/or inadequate sunlight exposure, although other less frequent causes exist, including genetic disorders and pregnancy. The most identified consequence of vitamin D deficiency in women is sub-optimal bone…

Biogen, a global biotechnology company with over 30 years of clinical excellence in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research, has recently announced the launch of Reimagine MySelf, a blog dedicated to helping women navigate their daily lives while also dealing with the complications that come with a diagnosis of relapsing MS…

MS Views and News (MSVN), a non-profit organization that works to improve education, advocacy and service to empower and enhance the quality of life of patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS), has announced it will offer a series of educational events on different topics throughout the month of July in…

With 26 states plus the District of Columbia now allowing medical marijuana use, according to a recent North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) survey, many people with multiple sclerosis are considering the herb as a therapeutic option. NARCOMS is a research program that allows people with Multiple Sclerosis…

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) has updated its smartphone app My MS Manager with several new features. My MS Manager, a first-of-its kind mobile phone app supporting both Apple’s iPhone (iOS 7.0 or later) and Android mobile devices (also works with iPads, iPod touch, and Android…

UK-based MS Trust has announced the launch of new awards designed to distinguish healthcare professionals that are committed to treating and changing the lives of patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). The QuDos Awards are currently open for nominations and will feature ten different categories. The QuDoS in MS Awards –…

Reality TV star Jack Osbourne has partnered with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to launch a new website as part of a three-year campaign called You Don’t Know Jack About MS. The site can be viewed here: www.youdontknowjackaboutms.com. The campaign is meant to raise awareness about…

Most employers these days talk about having workforce diversity oriented policies that support hiring people living with disabilities and chronic diseases, but what distinguishes rhetoric from reality? What in positive, practical terms can companies do in support of helping people living with visible or invisible challenges find and keep gainful…

Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada recently conducted a study that explored the differences in lifespan and comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to healthy individuals. The study was recently published in the journal Neurology and is entitled “Effect of comorbidity…

World MS Day is celebrated on May 27 as a day dedicated to those who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). In order to mark the occasion, organizations, companies, advocates, and communities are hosting events throughout the world to share inspiring stories, raise awareness about the disease and campaign to support both patients…

A new robotic device could help people with all types of paralysis, including patients with multiple sclerosis. Erik Sorto is the first person to benefit from the device. Paralyzed at age 21 from a gunshot wound, he is now able to move his robotic arm through the power of his own…

The 4th International MS Patient Summit, which will be held on May 22 in Rome, Italy, will explore feedback from patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) in an effort to increase knowledge of the disease and, hopefully, improve treatments. Kaz Aston, the conference moderator, is an MS patient herself who was diagnosed with the…

Two Dragons Hypnotherapy recently announced the results of a one-year case study that assessed the effects of hypnotherapy on a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) named Kristen. Case studies such as these, while not enough to establish new scientific conclusions on how to effectively treat a disease such as MS, add…

There has been a great deal of recent interest in the connection between nervous system function and the complex bacteria that are found in the gastrointestinal system, known as the gut microbiome. Some scientists believe that differences in the type of bacteria found in the gut may underlie neurological disease. In…

Singer Kristen King began to experience fatigue, muscle weakness and later paralysis in some parts of the body in 2013, and it came as a shock when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). After struggling to deal with the unfortunate news and her new reality, the singer has now…

Just like any student, Stephanie Butler was excited to start working, in her case as a nurse, when she began experiencing numbness in her limbs and lost sensation below the waist. It was the first time the student nurse was going to administer anesthesia to a patient, three years ago, when after a…

The MS Society recently announced it will invest £2 million into the Edinburgh Centre for MS Research. This funding will support the research work of a team of about fifteen world-leading research experts from the University of Edinburgh. The team co-directed by Professors Siddharthan Chandran and Charles ffrench-Constant will continue their…

MS Views and News (MSVN), a non-profit organization focused on collecting and distributing information about multiple sclerosis (MS), is hosting a series of educational patient programs and events during the month of May. The events have different themes, but are all focused on the management of MS, including medication, avoiding…

A team led by researchers at the New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center recently assessed what happens when clinically stable patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) stop taking their medication and found that almost 40% of them experience to some extent a return in disease activity and related symptoms. The…

Cambridge, Massachusetts based PatientsLikeMe has released results of a novel study conducted in conjunction with pharmaceutical maker Biogen that demonstrated how people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can employ wearable activity tracking devices to monitor, collect, and share their personal mobility data. That information can potentially be relevant for…

A team of Kessler Foundation researchers recently published their findings on the MEMREHAB trial, whereby treatment with the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) may be affected by cognitive dysfunction. The study entitled “The influence of cognitive dysfunction on benefit from learning and memory rehabilitation in MS:…

A recent study suggests that in the future multiple sclerosis patients could benefit from treatments intended to boost their brain function. The study was published in Nature Neuroscience and received funding from The Wellcome Trust, the Lister Research Prize and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. According to researchers, patients…

The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society recently released a recent paper on wellness titled “Wellness for People with MS: What do we know about Diet, Exercise and Mood And what do we still need to learn?“ The paper focuses on how wellness can be achieved by…

The Foundation of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (FCMSC) is launching a new mentorship program dedicated to medical residents pursuing a neurology fellowship to accelerate and support their work in treating multiple sclerosis (MS). The initiative was launched at the beginning of the year and seeks to provide information on career…

Can exercise help brain function in people with multiple sclerosis (MS)? A new study suggests that it is possible. The report appeared in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. Led by Robert Motl in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at…

The online community for neurologists Neurology Times will feature special coverage focused on multiple sclerosis (MS) in celebration of MS Awareness Month, which is currently taking place in March. The online platform was designed to provide healthcare professionals with informational resources about several hard…