Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers call for “major policy changes" in order to “avoid many of the long-term economic and personal costs that result from unnecessary irreversible disability.”

Following a diet that mirrors the habits of fasting can reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

As new treatments are developed for multiple sclerosis one of the questions has become how do you measure their success. A possible metric being developed is No Evidence of Disease Activity or NEDA.

While the work being done to find a treatment for neuromyelitis optica is encouraging those in the field know they have not yet found a cure for the condition and that the agents being investigated will not help reverse the damage already done, which can be discouraging at times.

There are rare diseases and then there are ultra rare diseases. Neuromyelitis optica falls into the latter category but with a considerable amount of research behind it and a defined target to look at there has been success seen in finding treatments with more work being done every day.

While there are no approved treatments currently for neuromyelitis optica there is a considerable amount of work being done to help patients with this rare condition in the future.

Acknowledging that uncertainty is a key factor in the care and treatment of multiple sclerosis is part of a solution to a problem, finding the best way to deal with that uncertainty is another issue that must be confronted by patients and doctors alike.

From the time a patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis there are often more questions than answers for extended periods of time. What that means for their care and management of symptoms is the subject of a recent study.

A recently concluded survey looked at issues most affecting patients with multiple sclerosis that they may not have been willing or able to discuss with health care providers but could help others with the condition in the future.

Even as the number of medications approved to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis continues to grow patients with progressive forms of the condition still await the first approved treatment option to help manage their symptoms.

Research into the inner workings of multiple sclerosis comes in all shapes and sizes including looking at specific parts of the brain. A recent study has looked at the role of the blood brain barrier and how it affects patients with this condition.

Country music artist, Clay Walker – who is well-known for his hit songs “She Won’t Be Lonely Long†and “Live Until I Die" – was diagnosed with a relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 26.

While newly approved treatments for multiple sclerosis move away from interferon based medications Rebif continues to be a popular choice after more than a decade in the field.

The treatment of multiple sclerosis requires the work of more than just neurologists and that figures to be the case well into the future as well.

Marijuana and alcohol – studies suggest that one of these substances helps patients with multiple sclerosis while the other can contribute to comorbidities.

Lifestyle factors and multiple sclerosis is a two-way street; but what does that mean for practicing physicians? Allen Bowling, MD, PhD, explains at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Center (CMSC) in National Harbor, Maryland.

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) help reduce relapses in people with multiple sclerosis. While options have expanded, little is known about which one has the greatest effectiveness.

A phase III study that examined teriflunomide (Aubagio) in a subtype of patients with multiple sclerosis was presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Center (CMSC) in National Harbor, Maryland.

The chronic vision damaged caused by multiple sclerosis may be reversed by using clemastine fumarate, an over-the-counter drug used to treat allergies and colds.

Forget the supplements and start booking a foreign vacation, because new research shows that could be the very thing to boost vitamin D levels.

Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) should be aware that using the drug mitoxantrone (Novantrone/ Pfizer, Teva) could increase their risk for colorectal cancer.

A drug extracted from the medicinal plant Oldenlandia affinis can block the progression of multiple sclerosis and was successful in animal models, according to researchers in Australia.

As more research is collected about Tecfidera's usage since clinical trials and approval there continue to be signs that it can be a good treatment option for patients with multiple sclerosis, especially in the earliest stages.

During pregnancy, a mother's vitamin D deficiency may increase her child's risk for multiple sclerosis.

Patients taking natalizumab may be more susceptible to John Cunningham virus-related problems, potentially increasing their risk for developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.