Early treatment with Mavenclad (cladribine) or monoclonal antibodies is more likely to control symptoms in people with highly active multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Argentina suggests. Highly active disease usually is considered when frequent relapses occur and there is an increasing burden of brain magnetic resonance imaging…
symptoms
Issues with sexual performance and satisfaction are common with multiple sclerosis (MS), and show significant associations with measures of quality of life, a study shows. Sexual problems tend to be more pronounced among patients with severe fatigue and depression, data suggest. These findings highlight areas where healthcare providers can…
Real-world use of nabiximols, an oral spray cannabinoid treatment, was associated with a self-reported easing of spasticity and related symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent study in Austria. Most patients (87.5%) said they were at least partly satisfied with the therapy — available…
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have experienced urinary tract infections (UTIs) at some point. It’s a common problem with MS and can be caused by a number of things, such as the inability to fully empty the bladder or the need to self-catheterize. Symptoms can include urinary…
Fujirebio has launched two fully automated laboratory tests to measure levels of the neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, a proposed biomarker of nerve cell damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), in the blood and spinal fluid. NfL is a structural protein found in nerve cells that gets released into…
Photo courtesy of Samantha Zarek Day 29 of 31 This is Samantha Zarek’s story: July 26, 2006 is a date I will always remember: That was the onset of my symptoms. My mom had emergency surgery that morning and when I told her that I saw two of…
Note: This story was updated March 29, 2023, to correct that cognitive function was assessed via questions about memory and three other cognition outcomes. Sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and sleepiness may contribute to self-reported cognitive decline in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests.
Photo courtesy of Lucinda Howard Day 28 of 31 This is Lucinda Howard’s story: I was in the first few months of my first “adult” job when I suddenly felt numbness and tingling on my skin from my ribs down to my feet and in my hands. I went…
Cannabis-based products are more likely to be used by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with higher levels of disability and pain than those with lesser disability or pain, according to a study of findings in Spain and France. This “may encourage health authorities to consider relaxing the barriers to cannabis use for…
Itaconate, a metabolite produced during cellular energy production activities, was found to restore the balance of immune T cells and reduce multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms in a mouse model of the disease, a study reported. The common metabolite specifically suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory T cells while promoting the…
If you noticed my sudden disappearance, it wasn’t because I was sacked. Surprising, I know. Just “MS MIA” — missing in action with multiple sclerosis. While raving in the hospital, I was suddenly moved to my own private room. In Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), this could only mean…
I may not be able to turn in circles like a dog anymore, but I still have a few bedtime routines. Before I had an intrathecal baclofen pump, multiple sclerosis-induced spasticity would wake me up multiple times during the night. Whenever that happened, it was next to…
Photo courtesy of Scarlett Ward Day 16 of 31 This is Scarlett Ward‘s story: My name is Scarlett Ward, and I’m 29 years old. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) when I was 27, after a particularly nasty relapse left me in the hospital,…
Chloe Murphy fought for years to understand the cause of her physical and mental struggles. (Courtesy of Chloe Murphy) Day 15 of 31 This is Chloe Murphy‘s story: I am 27, from Cork, Ireland. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in April 2021, but truly…
Photo courtesy of Kerry Walkins Day 13 of 31 This is Kerry Walkins‘ story: At 36, I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Looking back now, I realize I had symptoms for a few years before that. In early 2021, I began to…
Photo courtesy of Amber Cunningham Day 12 of 31 This is Amber Cunningham‘s story: Hi, I am Amber. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in April 2019, a day I will never forget. I woke up on my daughter’s birthday and couldn’t see out…
Photo courtesy of Julie Wigley Day 11 of 31 This is Julie Wigley‘s story: In 2010, I started having numbness in my legs, specifically when I’d look down. I didn’t think much of it, but mentioned it to my primary care doctor during a…
The “invisible” symptoms that are common with relapsing-remitting MS and many other chronic illnesses can be the bane of our lives. It’s difficult enough to manage them, as they’re constantly fluctuating like a changing tide. But in some ways, it’s even more difficult to explain them to…
Photo courtesy of Natalina Larsson Day 5 of 31 This is Natalina Larsson’s story: My name is Natalina. I’m 35 years old and live in Sweden. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in June 2021. My MS symptoms are balance difficulties, dizziness, physical fatigue, tremor, spasticity in…
Mike Parker noticed numbness in his feet about 10 years before he was diagnosed with MS. (Photo courtesy of Mike Parker) Day 4 of 31 This is Mike Parker’s story: I recently was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The last few months have been tough, with worsening disease…
Photo courtesy of Brittany Quiroz Day 2 of 31 This is Brittany Quiroz’s story: There are dozens of misconceptions about living with multiple sclerosis (MS): People with MS wind up in a wheelchair. MS is only for old people. MS is — or isn’t — genetic. I think…
Natalie Busari was diagnosed with MS soon after giving birth to her second child. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Busari) Day 1 of 31 This is Natalie Busari’s story: Hi there! My name is Natalie Busari and I live in South London. OK, enough of the small talk. You must…
Activating certain receptors on astrocytes — a type of nerve support cell — may offer a way of treating cognitive problems in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research. MS mouse models genetically engineered to lack these receptors, called TNFR2, showed signs of greater cognitive problems, whereas cognitive gains…
A greater loss of myelin — the protective coating around nerve fibers — in the part of the spinal cord found in the neck was associated with worse disability in people with multiple sclerosis, data from a new study showed. More substantial myelin loss in this region, known…
Psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety are more common among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the five years leading up to disease onset than in people from the general population, according to a recent analysis. Individuals who would later go on to develop clinical signs of MS also…
An eight-week intermittent fasting intervention for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) led to significant improvements in cognition and manual dexterity for these patients, who also tended to have lower fatigue and pain scores at the program’s end, an exploratory study showed.
Eating too much salt can disrupt the energy metabolism of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which normally work to control inflammation and fight autoimmunity, prompting them to adopt an inflammatory profile similar to what’s seen in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, a study found. Even a short-term exposure to…
Treatment with docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, reduced inflammation and disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings suggest that “an increase of omega-3 consumption may be beneficial to patients diagnosed with MS,” researchers said. “We believe our findings…
Measuring levels of the protein GFAP in blood can help to predict disability progression that occurs without relapses — so-called silent progression — 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…
“scabulous adj. proud of a scar on your body, which is an autograph signed to you by a world grateful for your continued willingness to play with her, even when you don’t feel like it.” — John Koenig, “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows“ I’ve managed to amass quite the…