National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Pediatric MS Can Be ā€˜Diagnostic Odyssey’

A post in one of the MS social media groups I follow recently asked whether kids can have MS. The writer was worried about her 3-year-old. One commenter replied that her son was diagnosed when he was 9. But, she wrote, his symptoms actually began to appear when he…

The MS Balancing Act: Steady As We Go

Gait and balance issues and MS go together like peanut butter and chocolate.Ā At least they do to me. In one way or another, theyā€™ve been in the foreground of my life since I was diagnosed in 2013.

Twin Cities MuckFest MS, Mud- and Obstacle-filled Run for MS Society, Set for Saturday

The Twin Cities MuckFest MS is set for Saturday at the Scott County Fair in Jordan, Minnesota. All money raised in the event will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to support its work in helping people living with multiple sclerosis and in advancing research toward better treatments and a cure. The MuckFest MS is a fun mud run that has raised millions for the Society, and requires no special training or equipment ā€” the only things needed, organizers says, are sneakers, a sense of humor and a willingness to get a little mucky. Participants run on a designed 5K course that features super-sized obstacles and lots of mud. A first wave of runners in the Aug. 19 event will take to the course at 9 a.m., followed by successive groups every 20 minutes throughout the day. "We muck it because ā€¦ We want to end MS," MuckFest MS proclaims on its webpage. "Even though the event is built for laughs from start to finish, weā€™re on a serious mission to advance cutting-edge research and support the life-changing work of the National MS Society." Runners are advised to wear closed-toe sneakers, and cleats of any kind are not permitted. An older of soiled choice of clothing is welcome, but should be clothes that won't restrict movement and will provide protection as runners move through the obstacles. Pants or shorts are acceptable. Many muckers, organizers say, choose to wear thin work or athletic gloves to better grip obstacles and ropes. All MuckFest MS events are held in wet muddy fields, so there is little flat terrain. They are not ADA-standard accessible, wheelchair runners will have to move through grass and dirt. The organizers, however, promise to do their best to make portions of the event accessible to people with disabilities. Participation is $105 on the day of event, plus processing fee, and those planning to register Saturday are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. Online registration is now closed. Spectators are welcome without charge. According to the MS Society, "the MuckFest MS runners and volunteers have raised over $27 million to support the life-changing work of the National MS Society" to date. "That means more cutting-edge research and continued support for people living with MS in your community." Multiple Sclerosis News Today plans to interview an event participant ā€” Beth Kantor, a retired nurse from Plymouth, Minnesota, who has relapsing MS ā€” after the event. Kantor is also volunteering at this year's MuckFest MS, helping others as they too take to the course. The first wave/start time is at 9:00 a.m Saturday, August 19, and then every 20 minutes throughout the day. More information, including a look at the obstacles, is available here. A blog by past Muckfesters, offering ideas and suggestions, is also available. MuckFest MS runs take place in a dozen U.S. cities each year. AbbVie is the national sponsor, and local sponsors for MuckFest MS 2017 include Acorda and Genentech. A national event sponsor is The Traveler Beer Co.

Find Your Strength and Adjust Your Mindset

The second module in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s positive psychology program,Ā “Everyday Matters,”Ā is called “Adjusting Our Mindset,” or ā€œthe fulcrum and the lever.ā€ In science, the law of the lever states that power into the lever equals the power out, and the ratio of output to…

#CMSC17 – Single Session of Ball-throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in MS, Study Shows

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) regain part of their balance control after a single training session of ball-throwing exercises, finds a study supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Researchers presented theirĀ study, ā€œA Single-Session Training of Ball Throwing Exercise Improves Balance Control in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis,ā€ at…

Ocrevus and the Hope of ‘Ending MS Forever’: Interview with MS Societyā€™s Tim Coetzee

The potential approval of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)Ā this monthĀ supports the idea that, someday, a world free of multiple sclerosis (MS) is possible, according to Dr. Tim Coetzee, the National Multiple Sclerosis Societyā€™s chief advocacy, services and research officer. While Coetzee ā€” and the society he representsĀ ā€” realize the potential of…

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Commits $10.5M to Fund 42 Research Efforts

The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced thatĀ is investing more than $10.5 million to support an anticipatedĀ 42 new research projects intoĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), part of its commitmentĀ to scientificĀ efforts aimed atĀ stopping MS, restoring lost function to patients, and, ultimately, ending the disease forever. The dedicated fundingĀ is part of aĀ projected society investment of…

MS Animal Study Suggests That Placental Cells Might Serve as Future Stem Cell Therapy

Research on a specific type ofĀ stem cell found in the placenta, known asĀ decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DMSC), suggests these cells might be the source of futureĀ treatments for multiple sclerosis. The report,Ā “Restrained Th17 response and myeloid cell infiltration into the central nervous system by human decidua-derived mesenchymal stem…

Resistance Training in Ms Patients Found to Improve Hip Strength, Walking Ability

Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineĀ released preliminary results of an ongoing study intoĀ an effective and progressive resistance training program to improve hip strength and walking ability, areas ofĀ concern in neurodegenerative diseasesĀ like multiple sclerosis (MS). The program, consisting of exercises using resistant…

New MS Survey Looks into Patients’ Appraisal of Risks, Benefits When Choosing Therapies

A large-scale online survey, funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Ā and developed by researchers,Ā is investigating how multiple sclerosis (MS) patients perceive and evaluate the risks and benefits of available therapies. InvestigatorsĀ encourage MS patients to participate in the survey, titled ā€œMultiple Sclerosis Risk Tolerance,ā€ which can be…