Black Americans may be at higher risk for multiple sclerosis than whites, according to study findings that contradict a widely held belief that blacks are less likely to develop the neurological disease. The theory that blacks are less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than whites was based on faulty evidence, the study authors said.
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Ingredient in New MS Drug Linked to Serious Brain Disease
April 24, 2013
By Brenda GoodmanHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) — The active ingredient in a drug that’s expected to become a popular treatment for multiple sclerosis has been linked to four European cases of a rare but sometimes fatal brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
The ingredient, dimethyl fumarate, is used in a drug called Fumaderm [...]
Shrinkage of Brain Region May Signal Onset of Multiple Sclerosis
April 23, 2013
Atrophy of a key brain area may become a new biomarker to predict the onset of multiple sclerosis, researchers say. If so, that would add to established criteria such as the presence of brain lesions to diagnose the progressive, incurable disorder.
Your Autoantibody ‘Profile’ Might Someday Help Spot Illness
April 18, 2013
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) — Human blood contains thousands of autoantibodies that could serve as signals for certain diseases, according to a new study.
Researchers found that every person has a unique autoantibody profile, which remains consistent over time.
People with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and breast cancer all had much lower numbers of [...]
Alzheimer’s Patients May Face Looming Shortage of Neurologists
April 18, 2013
THURSDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain disorders, finding a specialist to treat their condition may be increasingly difficult, according to a new study.
Experts in the field of medicine that focuses on the brain and nervous system revealed that there is a shortage [...]
Babies’ Birth Month May Affect MS Risk: Study
April 8, 2013
MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) — A newborn’s immune system development, vitamin D levels and risk for multiple sclerosis may be influenced by the month of birth, new research suggests.
A study conducted in London found that babies born in May have significantly lower levels of vitamin D and a potentially greater risk for developing MS [...]
FDA Approves New Multiple Sclerosis Drug
March 29, 2013
A new drug called Tecfidera has been approved to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. The approval is based on the results of two clinical trials showing that patients who took Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) capsules had fewer MS relapses than those who took an inactive placebo. One of the trials also showed that a worsening of MS-related disability occurred less often in patients who took the drug than in those who took the placebo.
Salty Diet Might Help Trigger MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis
March 6, 2013
Eating lots of foods loaded with salt may do more than raise your blood pressure: Researchers report that it could also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system mistakenly mounts an attack upon some part of the body. Three new studies suggest salt may be a prime suspect in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine).
Vitamin D in Pregnancy May Be Key to Women’s Risk for MS, Study Says
November 20, 2012
Pregnant women with higher levels of vitamin D circulating in their blood were significantly less likely to develop multiple sclerosis in the years after giving birth, a new Swedish study suggests. Researchers also found that vitamin D blood levels had decreased gradually since 1975 in those tested, possibly providing clues as to why MS has become more common in industrialized parts of the world.
Cancer Drug Reduced Relapses in MS Patients: Studies
November 1, 2012
THURSDAY, Nov. 1 (HealthDay News) — The cancer drug alemtuzumab (Campath) reduces the risk of disease relapse in people with multiple sclerosis, two new trials show.
About 85 percent of multiple sclerosis patients start with a form of the disease called relapsing-remitting MS, where symptoms appear sporadically (a relapse) and then either partially or completely fade [...]
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04/16/2012 - Health News, Multiple SclerosisFish Oil Supplements Won’t Help in Multiple Sclerosis: Study
04/16/2012 - Health News, Multiple SclerosisMultiple Sclerosis May Cause Changes in Thalamus: Study
12/30/2011 - Health News, Multiple Sclerosis
