The misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a significant problem, according to a new study. A survey of MS experts reveals that nearly all have seen patients for whom other physicians have diagnosed MS, who don’t actually have the condition. It is relatively common for doctors to diagnose someone with multiple sclerosis when the patient… [Continue Reading]
Drug Prevents Cell Degeneration After Spinal Cord Injury
March 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have shown that a new drug may be effective to help treat spinal cord injuries. After damage to the spinal cord, formation of a scar and immune reaction are major roadblocks to any kind of repair. The drug, which is also being tested as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, appears to help prevent this… [Continue Reading]
Imaging Iron in the Brain Can Track Multiple Sclerosis Progression
December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have found that imaging the levels of iron in the brain is an effective way to monitor the progression of the disease. The results of the study indicates that high iron levels in certain brain areas are linked to deteriorating motor function, and these can be observed with MRI. Medical researchers at the University… [Continue Reading]
Saffron Compound May Protect Cells that Insulate Neurons in the Brain
November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A compound isolated from the spice saffron could be a potent protector of an essential cell type in the brain, researchers say. A study conducted in brain cells grown in the laboratory has found that that compound, crocin, prevents the degeneration of myelin, a material that helps electrically insulate brain cells, so they can communicate… [Continue Reading]
Drugs Targeting Estrogen Could Help Treat Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers’, Cardiovascular Disease
October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Estrogen plays multiple roles in the body, regulating many processes essential for health. Cells are able to sense and respond to estrogen through an estrogen receptor. Multiple types of estrogen receptors exist, and researchers argue that the receptors should be used as targets to develop drugs. They propose that modifying the effects of estrogen could… [Continue Reading]
Supplement Blocks Autoimmune Response in Multiple Sclerosis
October 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Glucosamine is a supplement commonly taken to improve joint health, but a glucosamine variant might have an even more important role in preventing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. MS is associated with an autoimmune response, where the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. N-acetylglucosamine, researchers say, prevent this response. A glucosamine-like dietary supplement suppresses… [Continue Reading]
New Technology Developed to Understand Autoimmune Diseases
June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are characterized by an autoimmune response, when immune cells mistakenly target the body’s own cells for destruction. Discovering precisely which target immune cells recognize could allow scientists to design ways to block this process. A research group has designed a new technique to identify what proteins immune cells… [Continue Reading]
Stem Cell Transplants May Slow Aggressive Multiple Sclerosis
March 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A new study suggests that stem cell transplant may help slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) for individuals with rapidly developing forms of the disease. The research followed patients over a decade, and found that after the therapy, symptoms tended to improve. The treatment is not without risks, however, as two patients died of… [Continue Reading]
Vitamin D Levels and Sun Exposure Linked to Lower Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
February 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Individuals with high levels of vitamin D, and those who spend the most time in the sun, are less likely to develop multiple sclerosis, a new study has found. Although scientists aren’t sure how the sun’s rays or vitamin D affects the development of MS, people should still be wary of too much sun exposure,… [Continue Reading]
Protein Promotes Immune Cell Entry in the Brain and Development of Multiple Sclerosis
January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have gained new insights on the role of a protein in the development of multiple sclerosis. The protein, which is found at high levels at the sites of lesions in the brains of patients, facilitates the entry of immune cells into the brain. This contributes to disease symptoms, and blocking the protein relieved multiple… [Continue Reading]