January 9, 2024 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Blood levels of GFAP protein may predict disease progression in PPMS The ongoing worsening of disability among people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) may be predicted by elevated blood levels of the GFAP protein, a marker of damage to star-shaped support cells in the brain and spinal cord called astrocytes, a study suggests. The risk of disability progression was…
October 27, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Relapses, lesions in 1st year on oral DMT seen to help predict outcomes A scoring system that accounts for relapses and MRI activity inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during their first year on an oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) was found to be predictive of worse short-term outcomes for people with relapsing forms of the neurodegenerative disorder, a study showed. “The occurrence of…
October 24, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Childhood stressors linked to future symptoms of pain, fatigue in MS Experiencing certain stressors during childhood may predict the future presence and severity of fatigue, pain, and psychiatric conditions associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new U.S. study. Childhood physical and emotional stressors were each significantly linked to a higher likelihood of MS patients experiencing each of the…
May 15, 2023 News by Patricia Valerio, PhD More nerve damage in MS linked to increased microglia activation Increased activation of microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain that contribute to chronic inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), is significantly associated with higher levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, indicating more nerve damage, a study found. Researchers particularly identified strong links between…
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 13, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New Machine Learning Algorithm May Better Predict Severity in MS A machine learning algorithm that incorporates genetic data alongside clinical and demographic information may be able to more accurately predict the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. “Once independently validated, the machine learning algorithm could enable clinicians to provide patients with more accurate prognostic information,…
December 9, 2022 News by Joana Vindeirinho, PhD Worse Work Status in MS Tied to Subjective Cognitive Impairment Patient-reported cognition difficulties ā called subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) ā are associated with current work status and with employment deterioration after two years in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reports. Depression and anxiety also were linked with work status among these MS patients, but such…
November 10, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Measuring Growth of Lesions in MS Better Predicts Disability Progression Measuring how lesions get bigger over time in multiple sclerosis (MS) can predict long-term disability progression more accurately than other lesion-based assessments, a new study reports. “Enlargement of T2 [total] lesions, and specifically of its volume, … is more strongly associated with long-term disability progression compared to other…
April 25, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD In Relapsing MS, NfL Levels Help in Disease Progression Prediction Serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) ā proteins found in nerve cell projections ā can help in the prediction of disease progression among people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of data from two large Phase 3 trials. The researchers said that NfL…
November 16, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Cerebellar Lesions in RRMS Linked to Worsening Manual Dexterity The number of lesions affecting the cerebellum ā a brain region responsible for coordinating voluntary movements and motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture ā predicts manual dexterity getting worse in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a retrospective analysis. The study, āCerebellar pathology and…
October 19, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD #ECTRIMS2021 ā Spinal Cord Lesions Predictive of SPMS Conversion in CIS Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the virtual 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Oct. 13ā15. GoĀ hereĀ to see the latest stories from the conference. Lesions…