April 25, 2024 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister Finding safety while living with the constant threat of MS progression Even as a small child, I enjoyed watching nature shows. They didn’t come on television often, but when they did, I absorbed every word. At school, I might not have been able to recite the Pythagorean theorem, but I could say with confidence that butterflies taste with their feet. That…
March 29, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Low estradiol hormone levels tied to worse brain damage in menopause Low levels of the estrogen hormone estradiol may be linked to worse brain damage, a new study found, offering a possible explanation as to why multiple sclerosis (MS) often progresses more rapidly in women during menopause, when levels of that sex hormone drop. However, the use of hormone…
November 1, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Immune cell, fat metabolism changes may help explain MS progression More activity among certain immune cells, as well as differences in immune signaling molecules, iron regulation, and fat metabolism, may explain why multiple sclerosis (MS) progresses more over time in some people than in others, researchers report. These findings may help to better understand the molecular mechanisms leading to…
October 2, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Most disability worsening on Ocrevus not tied to relapses: Study Among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), most of the disability worsening they experience is not associated with any relapse activity, according to an analysis of real-world data. “We present real-world data from our multiple sclerosis center underlining that in a typical population of relapsing MS…
June 23, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Imcyse joins EU project to develop tools to better track MS progression The biopharmaceutical company Imcyse has signed on to a new project that aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to develop tools that can be used to better track the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The project’s goal is to help guide treatment decisions for MS patients. Called Clinical…
March 22, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Greater MS disability reported in patients with COVID-19 infection Infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 significantly accelerates neurological disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), at least in the first months after infection, a study from Belgium reported. A more severe case of COVID-19, one requiring hospitalization, also significantly associated with a faster worsening of MS…
February 9, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Levels of GFAP protein in blood may predict ‘silent progression’ of MS Measuring levels of the protein GFAP in blood can help to predict disability progression that occurs without relapses ā so-called silent progression ā in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. These findings may have “clinical implications for patient management and development of novel drugs,” the…
December 1, 2022 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Good Immune Responses to CMV Infection Linked to Better Outcomes People with good immune responses against the human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common herpes virus, around the time of their first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) may go on to have a slower disease course, a study has found. Compared with people showing weaker immune responses to CMV, these patients…
September 12, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Progression Without Relapse Also Common in RRMS, Patients Say Nearly two-thirds of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) report disease progression independent of relapses, according to a survey involving more than 4,500 multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients in Germany. This finding supports evidence pointing to progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) as an underestimated contributing factor in RRMS.
September 2, 2022 Columns by John Connor Thanks to MS Progression, My Weight Became a Problem My weight went off the scale when my multiple sclerosis (MS) meant that I could no longer safely get on the scale. This was probably about four years ago. In them there halcyon days (for me, anyway), I still shared our second-floor bedroom (first-floor, for those of us here…
July 26, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Review Gives ‘Cautious Support’ to Childhood Trauma as MS Risk Factor Most available studies suggest a connection between childhood trauma andĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), from earlier symptom onset to potentially poorerĀ outcomes, but more research is needed to understand this association, a review paper highlights. While several high-quality studies have been published, the scientists noted “considerable heterogeneity [variability] in methodology, including inconsistencies…
December 13, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Imaging of Retina Can Help in Monitoring Nerve Cell Damage in MS An imaging technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be useful for monitoring nervous system damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially early on in the disease, a study in patients reports. The study, “Optical coherence tomography in multiple sclerosis: A 3-year prospective multicenter study,”…
November 4, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell When Loss Is Expected, How Do We Cope? It is hard to watch the decline in real time. It happens before my very eyes. Like “Groundhog Day,” I wake, I try, and I do. I persevere because that is who I am. I push past the chaos in my body. I don’t see every new pain as…
April 22, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Coming Full Circle in My Relationship With My Mother She held me in a fierce hug. It had been a year since I had held my mother so closely. I rested my chin on her shoulder and silently thanked God. As I looked up, my eyes met hers. I knew what question was coming, along with the weight of…
April 12, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Predicting Progression, DMT Costs, MS Rates Retinal Layer Thickness May Predict MS Progression, Relapses We all know how unpredictable MS is. For some, it progresses very quickly, while for others, it follows a slow progression over many years. Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew the course our disease is likely to follow, right from…
March 4, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD #ACTRIMS2021 – Benign Versus Aggressive MS ā the Hunt for Clues Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25ā27. GoĀ hereĀ to see the latest stories from the conference. While researchers make progress in pinpointing markers of disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), identifying those that signal…
September 28, 2020 News by Teresa Carvalho, MS High Co-occurrence of Psychiatric, Cardiovascular Diseases in MS, Study Reports People with multiple sclerosis (MS) show a high occurrence of comorbidities ā two diseases occurring in one person at the same time ā with psychiatric and cardiovascular diseases being the most common, a new study reports. Having another co-existing disorder was found to have an impact on MS…
May 28, 2020 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: What Does MS Progression Mean? Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum post “Number, Location, Size of Lesions on MRI Can Predict Progression to MS,”…
February 6, 2020 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Could Myeliviz, a New Imaging Agent of Myelin, Be a Game-changer? Myelin is the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers and is damaged in those with multiple sclerosis. Quantifying the degenerative process of myelin would lend perspective to how much and where a patient is progressing. Currently, MRIs are used for diagnostic purposes, but the nuances of progression remain difficult…
December 12, 2019 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc CanProCo, Canadian Study into MS Progression, Given $1M in Support by Alberta The Government of Alberta is investing CA$1 million into a research project that will follow for years a group of people withĀ multiple sclerosisĀ ā with varying disease types and at differing stages ā to better understand progression in MS. The province’s contribution brings to more than CA$10 million (about…
December 5, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Thankful Awakening: Accepting Change with SPMS My happiness quotient correlates with my ability to give. I find tremendous satisfaction in doing this. This is one reason that I cherish Thanksgiving. I derive immense pleasure in creating this symbolic meal for those I love. For a subpar cook, I knock the socks off the classic Thanksgiving…
August 19, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Dark Rimmed Lesions, Sativex in the UK, NHS Care Toolkit for Neurological Diseases, Wahls Diet Dark Rimmed Brain Lesions May Be Signal of Aggressive Disease, NIH Study Says Researchers in this study found that specific brain lesions, notable for their dark rims, may indicate that a patient’s multiple sclerosis is likely to progress quickly. They suggest that early detection of these lesions can help…
May 17, 2019 News by Alana Kessler MS RD How Diet Helped Creator of Wahls Protocol in Personal MS Journey: A Nutritionist’s View In my recent conversation with Terry Wahls, MD, creator of the Wahls diet for multiple sclerosis (MS), she said something that resonated with me: āYou canāt change your genes, but you can change your geneās expression.ā How true this statement is. However, it was only a few short years ago that Dr. Wahlsā diet protocol, and āfood as medicineā philosophy was being met with strong criticism from the medical community. Nowadays, the modified paleolithic diet and lifestyle program she facilitates at the Wahls Institute in Iowa is being touted as the work of a visionary.
January 14, 2019 Columns by Debi Wilson Vitamin D May Help Lessen MS Symptoms, Some Studies Suggest To grasp the connection between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis (MS), it is first important to understand this vitamin’s power. It is one of the “superhero” vitamins needed to help keep our bodies functioning properly. According to the Cleveland Clinic, vitamin D is essential for us to absorb the…
December 10, 2018 News by Mary Chapman Research Team Chosen to Lead to Novel Research Project in Canada into MS Progression With a renowned researcher and her team chosen to lead it, work can now begin on the first project of its kind in Canada designed to shed more light onĀ multiple sclerosis progression, and better ways of diagnosing and treating it. Leading the pioneering $7 million project ā theĀ Canadian…
October 18, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #ECTRIMS2018 – Role of Brain Atrophy in MS Progression Poorly Understood by Patients, MSAA Survey Finds Although brain atrophy ā the loss of brain volume ā is an increasingly important measure in multiple sclerosis trials and treatment outcomes, MS patients have a limited understanding of its role in disease progression,Ā a survey reveals. This finding was detailed in the presentation ā…
October 15, 2018 Columns by Debi Wilson PPMS Suddenly and Spontaneously Surges My Symptoms When I was diagnosed in 2010 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), I didnāt know what to expect. It quickly became apparent that my doctors didnāt know, either. Iām sure they could have given me some scenarios of what my future might be…
August 13, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: MMJ Chewing Gum, Hair Loss, Botox for Bladder Problems, MS Progression Prediction Hair Loss Seen in RRMS Patients Using Aubagio Often Temporary and Mild, Study Says I read a lot of questions on multiple sclerosis (MS) social media groups from people who are worried about hair loss caused by their disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Aubagio (teriflunomide) is one DMT with…
March 26, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Canadian Study Links Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Disability in Women with MS Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders contribute to physical disability in women with multiples sclerosis, according to a Canadian study that confirmed the results of previous research. The article the team wrote, āPsychiatric comorbidity is associated with disability progression in multiple sclerosis,āĀ appeared in the journal…
December 21, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell A Year in Review with Progressive MS Ā They say a near-death experience will invoke a montage of your life in a matter of seconds. Gratefully, I have not had the experience to find out if this is indeed a truism, but I recently experienced a mini-mĆ©lange of my own. I read the mail, more specifically the…