March 21, 2024 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD S1PR modulators linked to seizure risk in MS trial meta-analysis People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a twofold higher risk of seizures compared with the general population, according to pooled data from clinical trials. Among MS patients, treatment with sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators, a class of MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that includes the oral medications Gilenya (fingolimod),…
November 30, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Sedentary behaviors more common among MS patients: 11 studies People with multiple sclerosis (MS) engage in significantly more sedentary behaviors ā activities like watching TV or using a computer or smartphone versus those requiring physical movement, such as exercise ā than do individuals without the progressive disease, according to a pooled analysis of published studies. This effect was…
November 15, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Noninvasive brain stimulation may help with walking ability: Analysis A noninvasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can significantly improve walking abilities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a pooled analysis of published studies. The technique was effective when applied to the main brain region called the primary motor cortex, which is involved…
September 22, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Menopause linked with lower MS relapse rate, increased disability Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have significantly lower relapse rates after entering menopause, but disability levels increase significantly in that period, according to a pooled analysis of studies. The findings are consistent with a decrease in immune activity with age and loss of estrogen, leading to fewer disease-related relapses,…
June 8, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Aerobic, resistance exercises most effective for patient fitness: Study For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), all forms of exercise are likely to be beneficial for physical fitness, but certain forms of exercise may be better than others at improving specific measures of fitness, according to a review of multiple clinical trials. Results suggest that resistance training ā pushing…
May 2, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Virtual reality therapy can improve balance in patients: Meta-analysis Rehabilitation therapy that utilizes virtual reality can help to improve balance and reduce the fear of falling for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new analysis shows. “Our findings provide support to the use of [virtual reality-based therapy] to recover balance in neurological diseases such as MS,” researchers wrote.
January 18, 2023 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Almost No Cases Found of Celiac Disease and MS in New Analysis Celiac disease, in which the ingestion of gluten causes the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine, is not common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a meta-analysis found. While the diet-caused autoimmune diseaseĀ is estimated to affect between 0.2% and 0.7% of people in the…
September 15, 2022 News by Vanda Pinto, PhD H. Pylori Infection May Increase MS Risk But More Studies Are Needed Infection with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) does not appear to protect against the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), a review study has found. However, when researchers focused on studies that used microscopic assessments of tissue instead of other diagnostic methods to detect H. pylori, their data…
August 25, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Aquatic Exercise Found to Ease Fatigue, Improve Balance in MS Aquatic exercise therapy can help to ease fatigue and improve balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), without notable side effects, according to a review of published studies. These findings have important implications for MS patients, as fatigue is among the main symptoms of the disease and…
August 19, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Prior Pregnancy, But Not the Pill, May Protect Against MS The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) is lower in women with a history of pregnancy and is not affected by the use of oral contraceptives, according to a recent meta-analysis of four published studies. However, the four studies, conducted in the U.S. and Iran, showed considerable variability in…
August 11, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Robot-assisted Gait Training Best for Severe Mobility Issues: Study Robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) may be the most effective form of physical exercise for improving mobility among people with severe multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent review study. Other exercise types, such as conventional walking, treadmill training, and yoga, may also be feasible and effective, however, the researchers…
August 4, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Stem Cell Transplant Found to Reduce MS Relapses, Ease Disability Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT), a procedure that aims to “reset” the immune system, generally reduces disability and relapse rates in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new meta-analysis. “Current data encourage a broader application of AHSCT for treating patients with MS while still considering…
June 22, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Erectile Dysfunction Can Affect Most Men With MS, Analysis Suggests The risk of erectile dysfunction was about three times greater in men with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with healthy men, according to a recent meta-analysis of published studies. It was identified in nearly half of the 2,760 adult male patients in these studies, highlighting the importance of diagnosing…
June 21, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Beer Consumption May Be Linked to MS Risk: Meta-analysis Alcohol intake is not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but specifically drinking beer may elevate the risk, according to a recent meta-analysis. The association, however, was limited by a small number of included studies. “Further large-scale prospective studies should be conducted to verify…
January 28, 2022 News by Vanda Pinto, PhD Study: Trigeminal Neuralgia Affects More Than 3% of Patients Trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition characterized by shocks or burning sensations in the face, seems to be much more common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, according to a review of published studies. This condition also is more prevalent in women with…
September 27, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Mesenchymal Stem Cells Show Promise in Preclinical Studies of MS The therapeutic administration of mesenchymal stem cells can improve functional abilities and promote the restoration of lost myelin in rodent models of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis of published studies. The findings highlight the potential of these stem cells, but also point to a need for…
September 21, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Anti-CD20 Therapies Show Similar Safety, Efficacy in RRMS Anti-CD20 antibody therapies that target B-cells are highly effective for reducing the risk of relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new analysis confirms. The analysis did not find any significant differences in efficacy or safety among the anti-CD20 therapies currently approved to treat RRMS, though…
September 17, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Rim Lesions, Suggesting Chronic Inflammation, May Be Common An imaging feature called a rim lesion is found in about 4 out of every 10 people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review study. These rims, thought to represent areas of chronic brain inflammation in which myelin is being progressively damaged, may serve as alternate biomarkers of…
August 17, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Probiotics Likely To Be of Help With RRMS, Meta-analysis Finds Probiotic supplements could ease disability, lessen depression, and improve overall health in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of four randomized clinical trials. Physicians working with these patients might recommend “confirmed probiotic supplements” to help manage “MS concerns,” its scientists wrote, while noting that studies…
April 26, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Gilenya Increases Patient Infection Risk, Clinical Data Suggest The multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment Gilenya (fingolimod) is associated with a 16% greater risk of infections,Ā compared with a placebo or control treatment, according to data from 12 randomized clinical trials. The findings were published in a study, āIncidence and Risk of Infection Associated With Fingolimod in Patients…
December 18, 2020 News by Diana Campelo Delgado Primary Headaches Prevalent in MS, Research Reveals The prevalence of primary headaches ā those with no clear cause ā is high among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests. Clinical screening of headache among MS patients could help tailor individualized treatments and ease the impact of the disease for these patients. The study, ā…
October 28, 2020 News by Diana Campelo Delgado No Association Between Skin Condition Vitiligo and MS, Study Asserts There is no significant association between multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and vitiligo, a skin condition in which patches of skin lose their color, a review study has found. The study, āAssociation of multiple sclerosis with vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis,ā was published in the journal…
January 15, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Specific Changes in Vitamin D Receptor Protein Linked to MS Risk, Study Suggests A risk of multiple sclerosisĀ rises in people with specific variations in a protein, called the vitamin D receptor, that affects how this vitamin works and is metabolized in the body, a study drawn from a meta-analysis reports. Its researchers suggest these variations, or changes…