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In this video from Patients Like Me, John shares that although he’s suffering from the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS), he’s definitely much more than the disease. MORE: How doctors treat spasticity in MS John explains that when the MS symptoms he was experiencing began to affect his everyday life, he had to take action. A […]
The post John’s Story: ‘I Am More Than MS’ appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
This video from the Center for Diagnostic Imaging explains how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help in diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) and how far this technology has come in a relatively short time. MRIs can also track the progression of the disease. MORE: 10 things to know about multiple sclerosis in children Dr. Steven Pollei, a CDI neuroradiologist, […]
The post Using MRI to Diagnose and Track Multiple Sclerosis appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
The multiple The multiple sclerosis community has been waiting with bated breath for the approval of the drug Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), which will be used to treat patients who have relapsing MS and primary progressive MS. The FDA’s decision of final approval arrived on March 28, which coincides with Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. In preparation for the announcement, we’ve put together a list […]
The post 5 Things to Know About the New MS Drug Ocrevus appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
Source Oxford Brookes University
A healthy diet may be a simple, cost effective and safe therapy for improving symptoms experienced in people with MS (pwMS), and thus for increasing quality of life. There is currently no cure for fatigue yet it is one of the most debilitating of symptoms associated with MS.
Pure cocoa may have the ability to improve fatigue due to compounds in the cocoa called flavonoids. However to date, no well-designed studies have looked at the role of cocoa consumption for fatigue management in pwMS.
This study will collect data comparing the effect of a high flavonoid pure cocoa drink to a low flavonoid cocoa drink on fatigue and blood levels of inflammatory markers in pwMS.
There will be no special payment for your involvement in this study; however we will refund your travel and parking costs when attending the assessments. Regardless of which group you are in, you will have the opportunity to learn about both interventions at the end of the study. As part of the interventions, we will be providing you 6 weeks of cocoa free of charge. Read on.
Source MS Society:
The MS Society Helpline is a free National Enquiry Service which provides support and information to all those affected by multiple sclerosis.
In this video, Helen, an MS Society Helpline Volunteer, tells her story of how the service has made a real difference to her life with MS. Watch here.
MS Society Helpline: 0808 800 8000
Source MS Society:
Researchers have found that common gut bacteria can suppress MS symptoms in mice.
We already know that gut bacteria can change the severity of symptoms in mice with a condition like MS. Now researchers have shown that brain inflammation and myelin damage were significantly reduced by one particular bacterium, called P. histicola.
It’s a microbe commonly found in your mouth and throat as well as your gut, and has previously been shown to reduce arthritis in mice. Read on.
Source Medical News Today:
Just 20 years ago, there was little in the way of treatments for multiple sclerosis. But now, research has built momentum, and discoveries and potential treatments are always emerging. How far have we come in treating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and how close are we to a cure? We find out.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Around 400,000 people are living with MS in the United States and approximately 2.1 million individuals have the condition worldwide.
The exact mechanism that drives MS is not entirely understood. However, many researchers suggest that the condition is an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath – that is, the protective layer surrounding the nerves that help electrical signals to travel from the brain to the rest of the body – in the brain and spinal cord.
Over time, the disease can deteriorate or permanently damage the nerves. Symptoms tend to vary depending on the nerves affected and the damage caused. While some people may lose the ability to walk, others experience extended periods of remission. Read on.
Source Multiple Sclerosis News Today:
Nortis, a Seattle-based biotech company, has received a $688,000 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a living, 3-D model of the human blood-brain barrier that will be used for laboratory testing to accelerate drug development and lessen the likelihood of failure in clinical trials.
This grant provides funding for a third year of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award given to Nortis by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a branch of the NIH. SBIR provides grants to U.S.-based small businesses to do federal research and enable the commercialization of technology.
The blood-brain barrier is a tissue barrier that only allows certain molecules to pass from blood vessels into the brain. It is a protective mechanism to prevent the entry of foreign bodies and infection-causing organisms in the brain. Researchers are trying to find ways of delivering medications across this barrier, to reach brain tissues to treat diseases that include multiple sclerosis. Read on.
Advancells says its stem cell-based therapy completely reversed multiple sclerosis (MS) in an Indian pilot trial with only one MS patient. The patient, Rahul Gupta, was diagnosed with MS seven years ago and has since suffered multiple relapses. His disease was progressing fast and he was quickly losing his ability to walk. Gupta, who lives in […]
The post India’s Advancells Reports Successful Reversal of MS in Single Patient Using Stem Cell Therapy appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
Spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients can be eased through a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and rehabilitation. However, caregiver support is required to keep patients on this treatment, according to results of a retrospective analysis.
Spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles, is a major MS symptom. The condition is significantly detrimental to patients’ quality of life, affecting their general mobility and balance.
Several oral anti-spasticity drugs are available. However, “treatment of spasticity in MS is frequently challenging because of the complex clinical picture and the undesired effects associated with oral therapy, such as fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension,” the researchers wrote.
Previous studies show that BoNT-A, a toxin that blocks nerve activity in muscles, is an effective therapy for the management of MS-related spasticity.
The long-term effectiveness and persistence of BoNT-A use in patients with MS-related spasticity, however, remains poorly investigated.
The research team in Italy proposed “to investigate the long-term persistence to treatment with BoNT-A for MS-related spasticity and the determinants of BoNT-A discontinuation in daily clinical setting.”
In total, the researchers reviewed data from 185 patients, out of which 121 were considered in their final analysis.
They observed that, at the end of the follow-up period, 44% of the patients in the analysis were still being treated with BoNT-A, but 56% had discontinued treatment.
Overall, these results “confirm the beneficial effect of combining BoNT-A injections with rehabilitation and highlights the crucial role of caregivers for achieving better long-term outcomes in people with MS suffering from spasticity,” the team concluded.
The post Botulinum Toxin Treats MS Spasticity, But Support and Rehab Seen as Crucial to Long-term Use appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.