Source Neurology Advisor: For patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, a diet-induced lipid profile change improved fatigue, according to a study published in PLoS One.

The aim of this pilot study was to examine lipid and cholesterol biomarker profile changes after a diet-based multimodal intervention was implemented, to assess the association between lipid profiles and fatigue in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. Analysis of safety, adherence, and nutritional adequacy was also completed. Data from a phase 1 pilot trial of an integrative 12-month diet-based multimodal intervention was obtained via subanalysis. The diet was a modified Paleolithic diet with recommended foods that included leafy green vegetables and deeply coloured fruits and vegetables.  Read on.

Source MS Trust: Action potential simulation is a complementary therapy which some people use as a treatment for pain in MS. It’s available at some MS Therapy Centres in the UK. (Note: We offer this at BMSTC, find out more about our service here.)

 Action potential is the term used to describe the moment when signals – tiny bursts of electricity – are transmitted along your nerves, sending messages to different parts of your body. The electrical current used in APS therapy works to relieve pain by recreating (simulating) these signals.

APS therapy involves having electrodes (small adhesive patches) attached to your skin which transmit very small electrical currents through your body. The location of the electrodes depends on where in your body you experience pain. The electrodes are connected to a small machine. The treatment usually takes around 30 minutes and requires you to sit next to the machine while the electrodes deliver the electrical currents. The treatment doesn’t hurt and is considered to be safe. Read on. 

Source MS Trust: A recent review has outlined the progress made so far in understanding the biology of remyelination, what goes wrong in MS, some of the research problems that need to be tackled and the prospect for treatments in the not-too-distant future.

Considerable progress has been made in understanding the biology of remyelination. This has identified potential treatments, such as clemastine, opicinumab and bexarotene which are being tested in clinical trials.

The review shows that a good deal of progress has already been made, although there is still much to be done. The authors finish by identifying questions that further research needs to address in order to build on this work.  Read on.

Source MS Trust: People with neurological conditions are facing long waiting times, limited access to specialists, poor mental health support and a failing social care system, according to a new survey by The Neurological Alliance.

The National Neurology Patient Experience Survey presents a picture of the experiences of people living with a neurological condition in England.  This year the survey received over 10,000 responses, making it the largest survey of its kind. It covered a wide variety of topics, from diagnosis and information, to access to social care and mental wellbeing. Read on.

Source Medical Xpress: A new study has shown that people in the advanced stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) experience significant improvements in movement and balance thanks to a specialised standing frame.

Led by the University of Plymouth and published today in The Lancet Neurology, the study in people with progressive MS also showed that the intervention appeared cost-effective, leading researchers to conclude that it could be routinely implemented within MS care throughout the UK.  Read on.

Source MS Trust: Finding the right holiday for you.

It’s that time of year when everyone is jetting off on holiday, but when you have MS there’s often a bit more planning involved before you can pack up your suitcase and head to the beach. Where can you find accessible accommodation and attractions? How do you organise travel insurance? What are the rules around travelling with medication? These are just some of the many questions you may face. So whether you’re planning a holiday overseas or a last minute trip somewhere in the UK, this article goes through a few key things to think about in advance. Read on. 

Source m.phys.org: A nanotechnology treatment derived from bone marrow stem cells has reversed multiple sclerosis symptoms in mice and could eventually be used to help humans, according to a new study led by the University of California, Irvine researchers.

“Until now, stem cell therapies for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases have produced mixed results in clinical trials, partly because we don’t know how the treatments work,” said corresponding author Weian Zhao, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering who is affiliated with the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. “This study helps unravel that mystery and paves the way for testing with human patients.”

In past experiments, intravenously injected stem cells—taken from bone marrow and activated with interferon gamma, an immune system protein—often got trapped in filter organs before reaching their target. For this study, published in the journal ACS Nano, researchers avoided that problem by extracting nano-sized particles called exosomes from the stem cells and injecting them into rodents with MS.  Read on.