The MS Wire

News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis

Category: Research

Think Hands as You Think MS

think hands

My left hand was numb and weak when I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For years after that, symptoms above my waist seemed just as prevalent as those below it. Yet, there were no tests being used that measured my waist-up disability level — nothing equivalent to the Expanded Disability Severity Scale (EDSS) that neurologists have used for decades to measure the level of disability of people with MS.…Continue Reading

Breakthrough Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine? Not so Fast.

multiple sclerosis vaccine

A medical website’s headline screamed, “Breakthrough Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine Shows Impressive Results In Study.” The New York Daily News joined in, highlighting a potential “breakthrough” vaccine. Other media outlets also were using similar adjectives last month. Unfortunately, it’s a little too hype-ish for me. I suspect some of it was was generated because the company sponsoring the research is BioNTech, which helped to develop one of the COVID-19 vaccines. Now, the…Continue Reading

Epstein-Barr and MS: Another Link Reported

Epstein-Barr and MS link

More support has been added to the belief that a connection exists between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS. Epstein-Barr is one of the most common viruses, and most people become infected with it at some point in their lives. Frequently, it appears in childhood as infectious mononucleosis, or mono. In a very young child, its symptoms may be minor or unnoticeable. Over the years, many studies have looked at a…Continue Reading

Do Mouse Studies Get Too Much Attention?

mouse studies

People who cover medical issues often write about mouse studies. These stories can regularly be found on traditional news outlets, both broadcast and print, as well as online platforms. I’m one of the people writing about mouse studies, though I try to be selective and limit my reporting to studies that seem very significant or unusual. Concerns about mouse study reporting has now generated a Twitter feed: @justsaysinmice. James Heathers,…Continue Reading

Research Reveals Another Possible Link Between Epstein-Barr and MS

For years researchers have believed a link exists between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis. But scientists have had a hard time finding a precise association. Now, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are reporting another possible connection. Researchers at the Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have found a viral protein in EBV-infected cells. They think that the protein may turn on a “switch” that…Continue Reading

Is This a Key that Unlocks a Door for MS Stem Cell Treatments?

Stem cell therapy

Americans who want to treat their MS with a stem cell transplant have a tough road to follow. They’re forced to travel to Russia, Mexico, or somewhere else out of the country and to spend a lot of money to avoid the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s stem cell treatment barrier. But now, a crack may be appearing in that wall. An article in STAT reports on surgeons at Houston’s Memorial…Continue Reading

At-home treatment studied for MS “brain fog”

(This post first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com) One of the most troubling symptoms of multiple sclerosis, especially for those of us who are still working, is “brain fog”…not being able to concentrate… not feeling “sharp” when working on a task or solving problems. So it was interesting to read about a new study that reports that patients with MS had better problem-solving ability and response time after training with…Continue Reading

Have a say in what MS researchers research

Our friends at iConquorMS have a couple of new, quick on-line surveys available for MS patients to answer.  I’ll tell you about them in bit but first let me tell you about iConquorMS. (I first wrote about this groups a few weeks ago the column I write for www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com). Have you ever wondered how your MS experience compares with others? Your ability to go out and do things? The therapies…Continue Reading

Are You Ready for Bed at Noon?

Fatigue

(This post first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com) I thought that I’d finish writing this last night, but I was too tired. Same thing the night before…and I’m sure this sounds familiar to a lot of you. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates that about 80 percent of the people who have MS have fatigue as one of their symptoms. (Only 80 percent?  The other 20 percent must be…Continue Reading