February 23, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Magnetic brain stimulation aids motor function, balance in MS trial Coupling a noninvasive brain stimulation procedure with an intensive rehabilitation program significantly improved motor function and balance in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a randomized clinical trial finds. High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive treatment approach that delivers pulses of magnetic fields to modulate nerve…
August 17, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Benefits of intranasal Nogo-A antibody observed in mouse model Delivering an antibody against the Nogo-A protein to a specific region of the nose called the olfactory mucosa improved motor function and preserved myelin in the spinal cord of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study. This intranasal mode of delivery enabled significant concentrations…
January 21, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Real-World Data Shows Tecfidera Comparable to Gilenya at Preventing Relapses Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) appears to have similar benefits to Gilenya (fingolimod) in preventing relapses and the loss of motor function and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study with real-world data found. The two medications also led to similar findings on MRI scans, including in…
June 8, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Robotic Exoskeleton Intervention Improves Motor, Cognitive Function Four weeks of robotic exoskeleton-assisted exercise rehabilitation, called REAER, worked better than conventional gait training in improving mobility and cognitive function in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients with substantial walking difficulties, according to a small trial. A robotic exoskeleton consists of an externally worn device that encases a userās hips, back,…
October 9, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Simple Sugar Molecule May Be Potential Myelin-repairing Therapy for MS Oral administration of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) ā a natural simple sugar sold as a dietary supplement ā preventsĀ myelin degeneration and loss of motor function in a mouse model of multiple sclerosisĀ (MS). Myelin,Ā the protective sheath around nerve fibers that helps to speed transmission of signals between nerve cells, isĀ damaged…
July 24, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Standing Frame Exercises Aid Lower Limbs of Progressive MS Patients, UK Study Says People whose advanced progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) limits their mobility can strengthen their lower limbs and improve life quality by engaging in regular standing exercises in their homes, a U.K. study into physiotherapy programs for this patient group reports. The study,Ā “Assessment…
January 24, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein New Products Intended to Stimulate Feet of MS Patients Naboso TechnologyĀ has expanded its product offerings with new insoles and training mats specifically designed to stimulate the nervous system through the skin on the bottom of the feet. The products were developed to help improve balance, posture, movement and restore motor function, as part of aĀ neurorehabilitation strategy…
February 5, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD MS Society Calls Attention to Recent Research into Gait and Movement Problems Difficulties with walking and balance are common among people with multiple sclerosis and strongly affect their quality of life ā even when disease progression may not be evident on scans or other measures of MS advance, according to research presented at a meeting last fall and recently reviewed by theĀ National…
January 2, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc MS Patients’ Handwriting Ability Correlates with Movement, Sensory and Cognitive Impairment, Study Shows A deterioration in multiple sclerosis patients' handwriting aligns with drops in their movement, sensory and cognitive skills, a study reports. MS includes loss of hand dexterity and finger movement control. This affects a patient's capacity to manipulate objects and coordinate hand movement, skills needed in handwriting. Previous studies have shown that MS patients had less handwriting rhythm and control than healthy people. This time researchers decided to compare theĀ handwriting movements of both MS patients and healthy volunteers. The research involved 19 MS patients and 22 healthy age-matched controls. The team asked participants to write a specific sentence on a digitizing tablet. They discovered that the way MS patients wrote was much different than those of the controls. The patients took a lot longer to write each word and to achieve spacing between words. This led to them taking a much longer time overall to write a sentence than healthy people. In addition, analysis of handwriting strokes showed that MS patients' writing wasn't as smooth as that of healthy people. Researchers also found a correlation between patientsā movement abilities and cognitive status on the one hand and their handwriting ability on the other. The team said it believed āthese findings might be very useful when planning rehabilitative task-oriented interventions focused on handwriting abilities.ā In fact, rehabilitation specialists should consider evaluating āboth the motor movement and the cognitive status of PwMS [patients with MS] in order to tailor the intervention."
March 13, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD UMass Amherst Receives $833,000 Pentagon Grant to Create Improved MS Diagnostic Test Kinesiology professor Richard van Emmerik and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts AmherstĀ recently received a two-year $833,000 grant from the U.S.Ā Department of Defense to create an improved diagnostic test for multiple sclerosis (MS). The scientists expects their research toĀ help an estimated 2.3 million people worldwideĀ who live with…
March 7, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Horseback Riding Helps People with Movement Disabilities, Review of 16 Studies Concludes Riding and other activities with horses can help adults and children with the balance, gait, and psychomotor disorders that are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis, according to review of 16 studies. The review, āTherapeutic Effects of Horseback Riding Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,ā was published in theĀ …
January 9, 2017 News by Janet Stewart, MSc Paleolithic Diet Improved RRMS Patients’ Quality of Life, Study Shows A modified Paleolithic diet reduced fatigue and increased the quality of life of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a study shows. The diet may also reduce inflammation by increasing vitamin K levels, the researchers said. The study, āRandomized control trial evaluation of a modified Paleolithic dietary…
June 3, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Robot-assisted Rehabilitation May Improve MS Patient Locomotor Function Robot-assisted training may be anĀ effective therapy to improve motor function in the lower limbs of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and help in rehabilitation, according to the study “Robot-Guided Rehabilitation Improves Sensorimotor Functions in Lower-Limb Impairments of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis,” presented at theĀ Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers…
December 29, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Fatigue, Cognitive Impairments Are Main Reasons Patients Lose Their Jobs Difficulties with cognitive function and fatigue are the main reasonsĀ patients withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā struggle to stay gainfully employed, a new study published in theĀ December edition of theĀ International Journal of MS CareĀ has found. The study is titled āFactors Associated with Employment Status in Individuals with…