risk

B-cell-depleting Therapies May Increase Risk of Psoriasis

Reports of psoriasis ā€” an autoimmune skin disease that shares some biological processes with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā€” are disproportionally high among MS patients on therapies that deplete B-cells, according to a U.S. study based on patient adverse event data. Conversely, patients on Tysabri (natalizumab), glatiramer acetate (sold…

Cognitive Dysfunction Found to Increase Risk of Death in MS

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is predictive of worse outcomes, including clinical progression of the disease and a higher risk of mortality, according to a new study. “This review revealed that cognitive dysfunction … was associated with higher odds of transitioning from [a] relapsingā€“remitting course to…

National MS Society Funds 13 New Research Projects

The National MS Society has announced it is funding 13 new research projects that seek to better understand the risk factors involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) development and progression. The funding ā€” nearly $7 million in total ā€” also will go to “rescue” 22 MS-related research projects that…

Greater Sense of Life Control May Curb Depression

Having a greater sense of control over life circumstances ā€” a coping resource called mastery ā€” is associated with a significantly lower risk of future depression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, an international study shows. The findings suggest that developing greater mastery may prevent MS patients from developing depression,…

Lesser Right-hand Dominance May Be Linked to More Severe MS

Inconsistently switching between hands for most common manual activities ā€” or naturally choosing the left rather than the right hand ā€” may be associated with more severe multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), either in the form of younger age at diagnosis or progressive type, particularly in women, a small study suggests. These…

Mono as Child or Teenager Tied to Risk of MS as Adult in Large Study

People who contract infectious mononucleosis ā€” colloquially known as “mono” ā€” during childhood or adolescence are at a roughly two to three times greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as adults, a large population-based study suggests. Notably, the study points to mono itself ā€” independent of other factors…

Risk of MS Relapse Not Increased by COVID-19 Vaccine, Study Finds

Getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 does not increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses in the two months following vaccination, according to a new study. The results support recommending COVID-19 vaccines for people with MS, its researchers said. “The incidence of relapses in the 2ā€‰months before and…

Serious Infections in Adolescence Linked to Increased MS Risk

Experiencing serious infections during adolescence is tied to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, but those occurring in childhood don’t increase MS risk, according to a new Swedish study. The study also found that certain types of infections, especially those that affect the central…

Risk of Severe COVID-19 Not Raised by Immunosuppressive DMTs

Exposure to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), and particularly immunosuppressive DMTs, does not increase the risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19, or of dying from the disease, when adjusting for known risk factors, an Austrian registry-based study found. These findings add to data showing no…

Hypertension Triples Disability Risk in Hispanic/Latino MS Patients

Hypertension ā€” high blood pressure ā€” triples the risk of severe walking disability in Hispanic and Latino people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new observational study reports. The study, ā€œHypertension and hypertension severity in Hispanics/Latinx with MS,ā€ was published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Although…

WNT9B Genetic Variant Linked to Increased Relapse Risk

A genetic variant in the WNT9B gene and vitamin D response are both associated with a greater risk of relapses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a recent study in Belgium has found. The study, ā€œGenetic variation inĀ WNT9BĀ increases relapse hazard in multiple sclerosis,ā€ was published in the journal…

Certain Factors Worsen Outcomes in MS Patients With COVID-19

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have more extensive mobility issues are more likely to have worse outcomes from COVID-19, a new study indicates. The study findings also indicate that COVID-19-associated outcomes are worse among MS patients who are Black, older, have heart-related diseases, and who were treated with…

#ACTRIMS2021 – 30 Minutes in Sun Each Day Lowers MS Risk in Children

Editorā€™s note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today news team is providing in-depth and unparalleled coverage of the virtual ACTRIMS Forum 2021, Feb. 25ā€“27. GoĀ hereĀ to see all the latest stories from the conference. Spending more time in the summer sun and living in generally sunnier places appears to provide protection against…

MSIF Issues New Recommendations to Protect Against COVID-19

The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) has issued new recommendations about how people with MS should adjust their daily lives because of the coronavirus pandemic. The MSIF, a network of national MS societies from around the world, first issued COVID-19 recommendations last spring. But much has been learned…

Variation in Given Gene May Raise Depression Risk Among MS Patients

A genetic variant may make depressionĀ more likely inĀ certain people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than others, a genome-wideĀ study in patients indicates. The study, “Depression in multiple sclerosis patients associated with risk variant near NEGR1,” was published inĀ Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Depression is characterized by…