Articles related to MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)

Age, a Critical Moderator in Anxiety/Depression and Cognitive Outcomes in MS In recent findings from the ACTRIMS Forum 2023, researchers underscored the crucial role of age in the relationship between mental health and cognitive outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Key Points: “Considering age is necessary when exploring the links between depression or anxiety and cognition in people with MS.” Researchers from the University of Toronto

Unveil the potential ramifications of a pro-inflammatory diet on MS patients, especially concerning relapse rate and inflammatory brain lesions. Recent research from the University of Tasmania offers key insights into diet and MS. Essentially, a pro-inflammatory diet may boost relapse rates and inflammatory brain lesions. This highlights the potential impact of such a diet on MS patients. Notably, this diet didn’t influence disability progression or chronic inflammation lesions. MS, defined as a chronic autoimmune disease, harms nerve cells. Significantly, lifestyle modifications may enhance MS symptoms and outcomes. A diet high in fats and proteins, known as a pro-inflammatory diet, could heighten inflammation. Conversely, incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, fiber, and beta-carotene may benefit those with inflammatory diseases. The Dietary Inflammation Index (DII), measures diet-related impacts on chronic inflammation. Importantly, higher DII scores imply elevated systemic inflammation, which correlates with increased cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer risk. The researchers used data from 190 participants in the AusLong Study, all later diagnosed with MS. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire, from which DII scores were computed. Importantly, for each one-unit DII increase, relapse risk rose by 18%. Strikingly, those in the highest energy-adjusted scores quartile were 2.24 times more likely to relapse. […]

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.