February 24, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias Lower-dose gadolinium now being used for MRIs with contrast If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), I’m sure you’ve had several MRIs by now. You’ve probably also had one using a contrast agent. The contrast agent is made from a rare earth element called gadolinium.
February 20, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS news notes: Remyelination, CNM-Au8, diet and bones Welcome to “MS News Notes,” a Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: More remyelination research For…
February 17, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias After 3 years, COVID-19 finally caught up to me It was bound to happen. Even though it’s been more than three years since COVID-19 reared it head in Wuhan, China, and even though I’ve had five of the COVID-19 vaccine shots recommended by the U.S. Centers…
February 13, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS news notes: Older MS patients, Lucid-MS, dysphagia, MS progression Welcome to “MS News Notes,” a weekly Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Older patients and…
February 10, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias My way or the highway, some multiple sclerosis neurologists think Note: This column has been updated Feb. 15, 2023, to correct that Ocrevus is an infusion medication and is not similar to chemotherapy. Is treating multiple sclerosis (MS) really all about the medications? At least…
February 6, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS news notes: Tysabri biosimilar, diet, cognitive rehab, aging Welcome to “MS News Notes,” a weekly Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Tysabri biosimilar on…
February 3, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias A Primer on ABLE Accounts for Americans With Disabilities Have you ever heard of an ABLE savings account? I hadn’t until a couple weeks ago. The acronym stands for the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, a law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2014. It created…
January 30, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: Myelin, SAR443820, Teenagers and Sleep, NICE Standards Welcome to “MS News Notes,” a weekly Monday morning column where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: A protein to…
January 27, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias Does Marijuana Help Your MS Symptoms, or Is It an Illusion? A recent question on the MS News Today Facebook page generated some buzz about getting a buzz on to treat your multiple sclerosis (MS). The question was, “What helps you the most to manage your daily life…
January 23, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: Tascenso ODT Approval, Baclofen Disdain, Myelin Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Gilenya alternative The disease-modifying therapy (DMT) Gilenya…
January 20, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias Could the Key to New MS Treatments Be in Outer Space? As you read this, a group of scientists is doing multiple sclerosis (MS) research high above the earth. Their laboratory is in orbit about 250 miles up, aboard the International Space Station. Working with researchers at the…
January 16, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: COVID-19, Gut Bacteria, Remyelination, Stem Cells Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Could COVID-19 trigger MS? Since the start of…
January 13, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS Flares, Relapses, Exacerbations: How Much Do You Know? “I was told I’m in a flare-up,” a newly diagnosed person with multiple sclerosis (MS) wrote to a Facebook group the other day. She said the flare-up had been going on “for a while now” and wondered…
January 9, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: PoNS Online, Foralumab, Masitinib, Gaslighting Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Tongue stimulator now easier to obtain A Portable…
January 6, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias FDA Approval of Ublituximab, Now Briumvi, Is Good News The new year is bringing a new disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to the multiple sclerosis (MS) arsenal. Shortly after Christmas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Briumvi (ublituximab), which joins a small group of DMTs…
January 2, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias Could Your Hip Pain Be Related to Your MS Steroid Treatments? My hips have hurt for several years. Right now, it’s just a dull ache. But there have been times when it has been a shooting pain. Hip pain isn’t necessarily connected to your multiple sclerosis (MS), but…
December 19, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: Brain Stimulation, Bright Light, ABA-101, Foralumab Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Possible nonmedicinal treatment for fatigue, spasticity, pain Wouldn’t…
December 16, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias Stress and MS Are Bad Companions, So Take It Easy This Holiday Season My condo was hit by Hurricane Ian in October. Less than a month later, it was hit again by Tropical Storm Nicole. I have a dog whose bark is shattering and a cat who likes…
December 12, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News Notes: DMT Costs, Copaxone, EBV, Rituximab Welcome to “MS News Notes,” where I comment on multiple sclerosis (MS) news stories that caught my eye last week. Here’s a look at what’s been happening: Is cost a factor when deciding DMT use?…
December 9, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias ‘Time Is Brain’: Managing Brain Atrophy With MS This is one of my “nobody ever told me that” columns. I was amazed when I read a comment from one of my “MS Wire” readers recently about brain shrinkage. “I’ve had MS since 2011. I had no…
September 21, 2023 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister Learning the hard way that with MS, no infection is routine