quality of life

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) reported improvements in physical and mental quality of life along with reduced depression after one year of treatment with an ocrelizumab biosimilar, according to a small study conducted in Iran. The observational study followed 30 adults with MS who received Xacrel, an ocrelizumab biosimilar…

Taking oral caffeine supplements may significantly reduce fatigue and improve quality of life and mood in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent clinical trial in Iran. Participants took 100 mg of caffeine tablets daily for 12 weeks, equivalent to about two shots of espresso, or a…

For many people, the arrival of a new year is a celebration of the possibilities that lie ahead. For those of us living with multiple sclerosis (MS), it’s often quieter and more internal. It’s often less about making resolutions and more about facing a reckoning. When you live…

Fear of a sudden relapse or a gradual worsening of MS symptoms is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a systematic review analyzing data from more than 3,000 people with MS. Those fears are not only widespread but also closely tied to poorer mental health, greater fatigue,…

There’s a kind of loneliness that comes from being almost understood — close enough for someone to recognize your outline, but not close enough to feel your weight. It’s a loneliness that doesn’t creep in all at once. It settles slowly, the way dust gathers on a shelf you thought…

Regular physical activity was independently linked to lower disability, fatigue, and depression over time in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study found. Other lifestyle factors also supported better outcomes. For example, eating a higher-quality diet was independently associated with less disability, while not smoking was…

A six-month gluten-free diet significantly eased disability and supported a healthier body composition in women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a new small study found. The findings support growing evidence linking the gut-brain axis and metabolic inflammation to MS, and suggest that a gluten-free diet may be a promising dietary…

Some mornings with multiple sclerosis (MS) feel like being stuck in quicksand. Fatigue appears first, followed by aches, and then the fog that turns simple tasks into mini mountains. On those days, I ask one small question to get moving: What color is my hope today? Dressing for dopamine,…

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself reflecting on what gratitude really means. Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has taught me that thankfulness isn’t just about the big, joyful milestone moments; it’s about noticing and appreciating the small victories that make each day possible. The truth is, life with…

On Sunday, Nov. 2, daylight saving time ended, our clocks “falling back” an hour. This time of year is difficult for many because the sun sets earlier and the evenings are darker. This can contribute to seasonal depression for a lot of people. However, I experience the opposite. Long before…

People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) have consistently lower quality of life than the general population — regardless of age or gender, a new study shows. The scientists also identified several factors that are significantly associated with worse quality of life in MS. These included disease symptoms such as…

A third of adults live with chronic physical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), but in most cases these conditions aren’t obvious to others — and many people downplay their impact to avoid making those around them uncomfortable. That’s according to a new report from Convatec, a medical…

As a physician, I hang my hat on certainty, where a certain medical issue can be solved with a certain medication. But when it comes to real life, especially as a parent and a person living with multiple sclerosis (MS), I know there’s little certainty in everyday living. My…

I never could afford to be a one-trick pony. That’s mostly because I wasn’t good enough at any single thing. Also, it benefited me, and those around me, if I was skilled at a variety of things. I’m not saying there’s no place for people who are masters of one…

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) often means constantly balancing what your body needs with what your life demands. Some days you’re managing symptoms like fatigue, while other days you’re trying to keep up with work, relationships, and other responsibilities that don’t pause for flare-ups or doctor appointments. Amid all…

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed almost every part of my life, which sometimes feels overwhelming. Simple tasks are more complex than before. One thing that has helped me cope is being a dog mom. I have a 12-year-old rescue dog that we adopted in 2014. He is…

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can sometimes feel like living with a trickster who changes the rules without warning just to amuse himself. One day, you are walking fine, and the next, your legs feel like they’ve been replaced with overcooked spaghetti. There’s fatigue, brain fog, and…

I celebrated my mid-century birthday two weeks ago with an online dance party with friends, family, and patients in “The Myelin Room” — a monthly Zoom event. At 50, I’ve officially grown up. I no longer think of myself as a “girl.” The more dignified “woman” feels more appropriate.

Following the MIND diet, a program that focuses on brain health, may help reduce disability, ease fatigue, and improve quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to an analysis of data from a U.K. database. The diet, which combines aspects of the Mediterranean and the Dietary…

At a recent social gathering, my military career came up, including the more than 100 parachute jumps I’ve done in my life. As usual, someone remarked that I must have enjoyed parachuting, and I had to say that I didn’t because I was actually afraid of heights. That brought the…

One of the things my occupational therapist uses to strengthen and improve the coordination of my hands is a type of moldable therapeutic plasticine. I call it “serious” putty, as there is nothing silly about it, and the way we “play” with it isn’t particularly fun. She has me use…

Last week’s column almost didn’t happen. I’m trying out a new-to-me medication for cognitive issues, and it affected my writing process. About halfway down that medication’s list of possible side effects was “abnormal dreams,” reported by 10% or less of users. As luck would have it, I’m in that…

A ketogenic diet — which involves eating a very low amount of carbohydrates and replacing them with fat — may help ease fatigue, improve neurological function, and boost life quality in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new analysis. Researchers stressed that available data on the effects…

Donald Kushner, MD, is a retired physician, board certified in internal medicine and hospice and palliative care. He has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than 20 years and draws on his dual perspective as both doctor and patient to explore illness, identity, and adaptation. He’s writing…

Although it wasn’t his field of study, my father has always been a history buff. On breaks from school, our peers visited theme parks, where they tried out death-defying rides and attempted to eat their own body weight in sugar. My sisters and I, on the other hand, were dragged…

Three self-reported prevalent symptoms among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) – fatigue, mobility issues, and cognitive impairment – are generally not associated with lower engagement in healthy lifestyle factors, a study in Australia shows. However, in the long term, mobility difficulties may significantly reduce adherence to physical activity, a…

“The Longest Shortest Time.” The title of this parenting podcast says it all. How can it feel like your kids will never outgrow a stage, while simultaneously being way bigger than you remember them being just yesterday? Living with a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) reminds me…

Regular exercise that follows established guidelines for physical activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) leads to clinically meaningful gains in depression and supports its use as a nonpharmacological treatment for people with MS, a meta-analysis of 12 studies suggests. The meta-analysis, “Effects of meeting exercise guidelines on depression and…

It’s not as though I do well in winter either, but — with apologies to Mr. Shakespeare — now is the summer of my discontent. It’s a shame, because even though autumn is my favorite season, I’d always enjoyed summer. Frozen desserts, vacations, fun activities around the water, and just…

Here in the U.S., today is the last day that someone out there will have all 10 fingers. It’s probably wishful thinking to suggest that it’ll be only one person, but I’m trying to be optimistic. In anticipation of the holiday tomorrow, fireworks sales started picking up about a month…