technology

A new technique is letting scientists peer into the brain’s wiring with greater detail by simply using a microscope and an LED light, an accessible and cost-effective method that may be useful for studying brain damage in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The method, called Computational Scattered…

A new wearable brain-mapping tool could dramatically change how doctors monitor people with multiple sclerosis (MS), making it easier to track disease progression and guide personalized care. Researchers showed the system, OPM-MEG, reliably detects abnormalities in the brain’s electrical activity in MS patients. The portable technology is a major…

Researchers have developed a highly sensitive imaging technique that can detect damage to myelin, the fatty wrapping around nerve fibers that is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), in large areas of the brain, according to a study. The tool may help assess the extent of myelin damage in…

A robotic exoskeleton dubbed Atalante X, which allows people with severe mobility issues to stand upright for rehabilitation exercises, is now cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a broader range of individuals with spinal cord injuries. Additionally,…

Doctors will be able to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) faster and with greater accuracy — allowing patients to access treatment and support earlier — following an update to the McDonald criteria, the official guidelines used to diagnose the condition. The revision reflects advances in understanding the biology of…

Octave Bioscience has raised $35.6 million in funding to continue marketing its multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity test and accelerate the development of a similar tool for Parkinson’s disease. The Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) test — the first blood test of its kind…

A new positron emission tomography (PET) tracer may help determine the extent of nerve fiber loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, something that can’t be identified with conventional MRI imaging, according to a new study. Researchers think the new imaging tech could help track the efficacy of experimental therapies…

A new imaging technology may help detect early signs of brain damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) that aren’t visible on conventional MRI scans, a recent study shows. The technology detects specific metabolic alterations in the brain by tracking certain metabolites and neurotransmitters — molecules that nerve…

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered algorithms to analyze data collected on a smartphone app could predict whether a person with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience certain high-severity symptoms in the next three months, a study shows. The scientists believe this will help empower patients to better understand their disease and…

Wandercraft has launched Walk in New York, a new rehabilitation center that offers access to its advanced mobility devices for people with severe walking impairments, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). The center provides sessions with neurological rehabilitation therapists and walking sessions with its robotic exoskeleton,…

United Healthcare will reimburse the cost of the PoNS device, which uses electrical stimulation to improve walking, for its insured members with multiple sclerosis (MS). The reimbursement covers $18,100 for the device and its controller, including patient copayment. This represents the device’s approximate list price adjusted for…

Octave Bioscience’s Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity (MSDA) test, which uses data from blood biomarkers to assess multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity, is now available across all 50 U.S. states to help guide clinicians’ decisions about care. Octave said the test received certification from the New York State Clinical…

A new machine learning tool, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), may accurately detect the transition from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) — and may be able to do so even earlier than clinicians can — a new study showed. According to the…

An online training program for managing memory and cognitive difficulties may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The program, delivered entirely through virtual sessions, taught participants practical strategies to boost memory then guided them about using the techniques in real-world situations, such as organizing errands, planning…

Biostate AI is partnering with the nonprofit Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) to develop a series of artificial intelligence (AI) models that can predict multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and how patients may respond to treatment. As part of the partnership, Biostate AI will use its high-throughput technology to…

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool called MindGlide can accurately calculate, from a single MRI scan, multiple aspects of brain damage related to multiple sclerosis (MS) — even when employed with routine scans that are not typically used to monitor such damage. The development and validation of the tool…

More Stamina, a gamified mobile app, helped a small group of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) better manage their fatigue by becoming more aware of their energy levels and planning their activities more effectively, according to a study from Finland. “Fatigue is an invisible but life-altering symptom…

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM), in which an implanted device delivers mild electrical pulses to the nerves that control the bladder, led to sustained improvements in urinary function in half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent surgery to have the device put into place, according to a review of…

Latifa Janahi takes a five-day course of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in her body. (Photos courtesy of Latifa Janahi) Day 19 of 31 This is Latifa Janahi’s story: I am a woman from Bahrain Island who’s passionate about technology and baking. After working in the tech field for 10…

Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms did better than most neurologists at answering a 20-question assessment about multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent study, suggesting that AI may be a helpful tool for MS care. Neurologists with an MS specialty scored as well, on average, as the AI platforms, while neurology…

The Floodlight MS app, a digital health application used to track dexterity, walking function, and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), has been deemed cost-effective in a new analysis. Modeling simulations showed MS patients who use the app experience fewer relapses and slower disability progression, which would improve…

Nearly all adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) said they are highly satisfied with the Sensoready autoinjector pen to self-administer Kesimpta (ofatumumab), according to a recent U.S. survey. High satisfaction was mainly driven by the reasonable administration time and ease of use, the researchers said. The…

Gadoquatrane, a contrast agent Bayer is developing for use in MRI scans, is able to detect regions of damage and other disease-related features while using 60% less gadolinium — a chemical element used to enhance an MRI — compared with existing gadolinium-based contrast agents. That’s according to new data…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared an extended version of Neurophet Aqua, an MRI analysis software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to measure disease-related changes in brain scans. Earlier clearance enabled Neurophet‘s software to analyze brain atrophy using T1-weighed MRI scans in people with neurodegenerative conditions.

A new technology is designed to be a “wearable” device for neurons, wrapping around individual nerve fibers with a goal of achieving new ways to study and treat neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Still in early testing stages and needing further refinement, the technology was developed by scientists at…

Helius Medical Technologies is opposing new decisions from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that stipulate how much of the cost of its PoNS device — a neurostimulator designed to improve mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) — will be covered by these…

Cionic has partnered with Lovell Government Services, a veteran-owned business, to expand veterans’ access to its Neural Sleeve, a leg-worn device to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other conditions that affect mobility. The lightweight garment is approved in the U.S. for use…

A clinical trial is evaluating whether combining a cognitive rehabilitation program with a virtual reality (VR)-based aerobic exercise regimen will improve learning and memory in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor disability. Researchers expect the approach will show cognitive benefits via positive effects on a brain region called…

The Australian government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded AU$2.9 million (about $1.96 million) to support a project focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) precision medicine strategies for multiple sclerosis (MS). The project will be conducted by a team of investigators that will include neurologists, neuroradiologists, and data…

Bit.bio, a company that creates human-derived cell products, has launched a novel product called ioAstrocytes, which provides functional human astrocytes to help scientists model the brain and study neurological disease mechanisms or screen new drugs. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord that provide support…