May 16, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Music, Resilience, Childhood Abuse, Exercise Biogen, MedRhythms Working on Music Therapy for MS Gait Issues This is music to my ears. Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but I’m a big music fan. Music in my ears really motivates me when I’m exercising. So the idea of using computer-based music therapy to improve someone’s gait has…
May 12, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Stress-reducing Activities Linked to Lower Risk of Depression, Fatigue Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients undertaking stress-reducing activities ā particularly physical and relaxation activities or meditation ā at least once a week are less likely to have depression, an international study shows. Additional links were found between physical activity and reduced risk of fatigue, and between meditation and a greater…
March 24, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Online Mindfulness Program Helps Patients With Depression, Trial Finds Eight weeks of an online mindfulness program significantly lowered levels of depression and improved quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers in Australia report. āThis study adds to growing evidence on how wellness strategies can help people with MS to reduce symptoms and enable fuller participation…
March 25, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Management through meditation: Balance can happen with MS Last updated April 25, 2023 Expectations equal resentment. It’s simple logic, yet profoundly true. Each time I set an expectation for myself or someone else, I set myself up for a potential letdown. Resentment happens as a byproduct of disappointment, despite the best intentions. As my multiple sclerosis (MS)…
November 6, 2020 Columns by Jamie Hughes 5 Ways to Let Go of the Stress Well, folks, we made it to the end of a very long political season and an even longer week. I donāt know about you, but I donāt feel a bit relieved. In fact, I have tension and stress trapped in every muscle and joint of my body. And thatās not…
August 21, 2020 Columns by Jamie Hughes What’s Haiku With You? I donāt know about you, but most mornings my brain feels like itās full of hyperactive gerbils. This could be my multiple sclerosis, or it could be pandemic brain fog. Either way, I understand that song by The Police in a brand new (and very real) way these…
May 15, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Mindfulness Training Seen to Aid Cognitive, Emotional Well-being in Pilot Study Four weeks of mindfulness meditation helped to improve thinking skills and a sense of emotional balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to a greater extent than cognitive training given to a separate patient group, aĀ pilot clinical trial reports.Ā These results were detailed in two studies,ā…
April 23, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Study Will Explore Benefits of Tai Chi, Meditation on MS Patients’ Physical Balance A pilot study has been launched toĀ assess the immediate and enduring benefits of tai chi and mindfulness meditation on the physical balance and mental wellness of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This community-based study ā currently enrolling participants ā is being conducted by the Motor Control Lab directed by Richard van Emmerik, PhD, professor of kinesiology atĀ theĀ University of Massachusetts Amherst.Ā The project was awarded a $54,972 one-year grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. While many MS symptoms vary from patient to patient, depending on the extent and location of the damage in the brain and spinal cord, difficulty in maintaining physical balanceĀ is a generalized complaint. Several MS symptoms can have an effect on balance, includingĀ difļ¬cultiesĀ with coordination, tremor and muscle weakness, stiffness, orĀ dizziness and vertigo. "Mind-body interventions are beneficial as they train dynamic balance, such as transitioning between postures, turning, reaching, etc., in a manner similar to movements in daily life," Julianna Averill, a doctoral student at van Emmerikās lab, said in a press release. Postural control and balance confidence is crucial to prevent patients' falls and reduce their fear of falling. Finding strategies that help patients cope and overcome this limitation is crucial, Averill noted. Contrary to other studies, which focus on mental health benefits, this project will look mostly at the effects of mindfulness practice on physical balance. Tai chi also will be evaluated for its potential to improve patientsā balance, both while they are standing and as they move. Participants will be randomly assigned to either eight weeks of free tai chi at YMAA Western Mass Tai Chi or mindfulness meditation classes at Downtown Mindfulness, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that involvesĀ bodyĀ stretching and slow, focused, flowing postures that keep the body in motion. Mindfulness meditation is based on mindfulness practices, including training on body scan meditation, and loving kindness meditation. Participants will attend classes for 2.5 hours per week, where they will receive training to complete an additional 2.5 hours at home each week. At home, participants are asked to listen to meditation podcasts, or watch tai chi videos via a website that also tracks their activity. āThe participants will be trained, and they will be able to practice on their own,āĀ Averill said. Patients' postural sway will be recorded by wearable sensors while performing distinct movements at the study start, at the end of all classes, and two weeks later. On the same visits, participants will be surveyed to assess the frequency of falls, balance confidence, level of fatigue, and ability to cope and adapt. āWeāre taking a more holistic look, considering the whole person and overall quality of life,āĀ Averill said. The team plans to enroll 30 participants withĀ mild-to-moderate MS symptoms, aged 21 to 70, and who areĀ able to stand and move without assistance for 15 minutes. For more information about the study and how to participate, contact Averill at [email protected].
January 16, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Mindfulness Protects Against Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue, and Sleep Issues in MS Patients, Study Finds Mindfulness protects against depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), improving their quality of life and overall well-being, a study finds. The study, “Longitudinal associations between mindfulness and well-being in people with multiple sclerosis,” was published in the International Journal…
November 27, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Lifestyle Factors Tied to MS-related Depression, Large Study Finds Changeable lifestyle factors influence the risk and severity of depression associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study based on a large group of patients shows. According to the study,Ā alcohol consumption in particular was linked negatively withĀ depression incidence and severity. In addition, a healthy diet and vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation…
June 13, 2018 Columns by Cathy Chester Multiple Sclerosis, Comorbidities, and How to Live with Them Iām doing all I can to remain calm and keep stressors at bay all in the name of wellness. So Iām trying to meditate at least five minutes a day ā find a quiet room to sit tall, close my eyes, and focus on my…
April 9, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Online Meditation, Coordination of MS Care, a Walking Drug Test, Stopping Your DMT Online Meditation Course Seen to Help MS Patients Manage Symptoms in Clinical Trial Can someone use a website to learn how to meditate, and then do it well enough to have their MS symptoms improve? Well, maybe. This small study reports that patients who completed an online…
April 6, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Online Meditation Course Seen to Help MS Patients Manage Symptoms in Clinical Trial Online training inĀ Ā meditationĀ based on mindfulness can improve the quality of life for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients while easing depression, anxiety, and sleep problems, a study conducted in Italy reports. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that interventions able…
August 24, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Using Peace of Mind to Cope with MS In this chaotic worldĀ in which we live, it is hard to be still, to sit with nothing but our thoughts. There is always something to worry about or preoccupy our minds that never allows us to rest in the present. As I sit on the patio and write,…
June 28, 2017 Columns by Judy Lynn Can You Cultivate Happiness as a Habit? Last week, I shared details ofĀ Everyday Matters,Ā a program by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This self-directed, multi-week program uses the principles of positive psychology. The readings, lessons, and exercises need not be completed in a particular order, but I am going to start my exploration of…
March 2, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD MS Focus Interview on ‘Mind & Mobility’ Festival, Set for March 12, and Benefits of Yoga The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (or MS Focus)Ā is holding its first Mind & Mobility festivalĀ this month, an event that includes yoga and meditation, talks, information booths on health and support services, and adaptive sessions for those disabled byĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). The series kicks off with a full day…
February 22, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman How to survive an MRI if you are claustrophobic Last updated April 26, 2023 A key test for identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) during diagnosis, or to confirm a relapse, is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) For those who’ve never had to undergo an MRI, the thought of having this test might be terrifying. Being encased in a magnetic…
January 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients and Caregivers Invited to Take Part in Meditation Study A new randomizedĀ andĀ controlled trial is recruiting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to investigate the effect of a mindfulness-based telemedicine intervention program on patients and their caregivers. The clinical study’sĀ protocol was recently published in the journal Trials,Ā titled “A telemedicine meditation intervention for people with multiple sclerosis…