Articles related to MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)

A study has found that the protein Mfsd2a, responsible for transporting molecules containing omega-3 fatty acids, plays a crucial role in regulating the development of cells that produce the myelin sheath, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS). The absence of Mfsd2a in mice resulted in immature myelin-producing cells and reduced levels of omega-3 fatty acids, leading to a decline in myelination. The study suggests that omega-3 molecules play a critical role in directing the development of oligodendrocytes, and this discovery may pave the way for therapies and dietary supplements based on omega-3 to retain myelin in the aging brain and treat neurological disorders arising from reduced myelination. MS involves immune-mediated damage to the myelin sheath, which is predominantly composed of lipids and specialized proteins. The study’s authors emphasize the importance of developing therapies to improve myelination in both normal aging and neurological diseases like MS and Alzheimer’s disease. By elucidating the role of Mfsd2a in myelination, the researchers hope to explore the potential of dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids to enhance brain myelination and cognitive function in aging individuals and those with neurodegenerative diseases.

In a study originally published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, alemtuzumab infusion resulted in significantly improved MS-COG scores in the patients evaluated after 12 months, with scores improving from an initial mean of -0.36, to 0.61.

A clear synopsis of the McDonald criteria, including application of the criteria with different manifestations of MS. This overview also provides an FAQ and the features the criteria in tabular and chart formats.

The presence of a prodrome is supported by the increased health care use prior to disease onset and by various biomarkers indicating an inflammatory and axonal degenerative process before any demyelinating event. Further understanding of this prodrome could help identify people at risk of developing MS, and possibly help with early treatment initiation and disability prevention.

Forty patients with MS and neuropathic pain were randomized to TENS or interferential current (IFC) five days a week for four weeks. Average self-rated pain and neuropathic pain decreased significantly following both interventions. MusiQol scores improved significantly following TENS or IFC. However, the TENS arm showed significant improvements in more domains than IFC on the MusiQol scale.

In a synopsis from ACTRIMS San Diego forum at the end of February, most patients who achieved a “no evidence of disease activity” in the first 6 months of therapy with Briumvi continued to show no active disease at the 2-year mark. At the same time, high-dose vitamin D appears to have no effect in controlling MS. And a suspension of gold nanoparticles designed to increase intracellular energy production, and previously demonstrating positive effects on cognition, vision, and motor function in MS, is the focus of a new study set to begin enrolling patients with progressive forms of MS.