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First MSIF international research co-ordination meeting takes place 9-10 July 2009

source: MSIF

Members of MSIF’s International and Medical Scientific Board's (IMSB) Executive Committee, MS society research staff and MSIF staff met in London for MSIF’s first international research co-ordination meeting on 9-10 July 2009.

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First person with MS to climb Mount Everest, Lori Schneider, visits MSIF office

source: MSIF

Lori Schneider met with MSIF staff and presented the World MS Day flag that travelled with her to the top of Mount Everest on 8 July 2009 in London, UK.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Ali Ahmad Hijjawi

Country:Palestinian Authority
Age: 47
Type of MS: Relapsing-remitting
Year of Diagnosis: 1998

My message to people with MS is to stay healthy and look after yourself.

Deutsch English Español French Italiano Русский

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Transverse diffusivity of cerebral parenchyma predicts visual tracking performance in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

In MS some degree of cognitive dysfunction may occur, although the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are not fully understood. In this study the authors investigated the relationship between the performance of neuropsychological tests and the damage to that part of the brain which appears normal, without visible lesions. The study was done using a new MRI technique which explores the microstructural characteristics of water diffusion. They found that people with the worst performance in the neuropsychological tests had a higher degree of damage in the normal-appearing brain tissue.

authors: Warlop NP, Achten E, Fieremans E, Debruyne J, Vingerhoets G

source: Brain Cogn. 2009 Jul 1

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Cognitive reserve moderates the negative effect of brain atrophy on cognitive efficiency in multiple sclerosis

Cognitive decline in people with MS has been associated with the degree of brain tissue loss that can occur. However, this association is not always present. In certain neurological conditions where cognitive decline appears, it has been shown that the cognitive reserve, (the intelligence and years of education that people had prior to the development of the disease,) may reduce the appearance of cognitive decline. The authors also found that in people with MS, the negative impact of brain tissue loss on cognitive function may be lower if people had higher levels of intelligence and education, prior to the onset of the disease.

authors: Sumowski JF, Chiaravalloti N, Wylie G, Deluca J

source: J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2009 Jul;15(4):606-12

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Relationship between psychosocial factors and onset of multiple sclerosis

MS is a complex disease with a multifactorial origin but of unknown cause. Psychosocial factors are amongst those which have been related to the development of the disease. The authors found a relationship between the presence of negative life events and the development of the disease, by comparing a group of people with MS and a group of healthy controls in a retrospective study. Due to the nature of the study design, these interesting results should be considered cautiously and further investigations in this field need to be carried out.

authors: Liu XJ, Ye HX, Li WP, Dai R, Chen D, Jin M

source: Eur Neurol. 2009 Jul 1;62(3):130-136

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Functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling of patients with multiple sclerosis: biomechanical and functional outcome--a pilot study

Rehabilitation in MS is essential to improve motor function when there is a certain degree of disability. However, rehabilitation treatment can be difficult if balance is also impaired, unless it is carried out with exercises which do not require a perfect balance, for example, with cycling. It has been shown in other neurological conditions that Functional Electric Stimulation (FES) when used during the process of rehabilitation (FES-supported exercise) can help to obtain better results. For this reason, the authors aimed to investigate whether FES-assisted cycling could help people with MS by performing a cross-over study. They found that the results obtained with FES-cycling therapy were much better than those obtained with cycling alone, not only in terms of subjective measures but also in objective outcomes, including the ability to transfer independently or the level of spasticity. The authors also found that the highest improvements were seen amongst people who had higher levels of disability.

authors: Szecsi J, Schlick C, Schiller M, Pöllmann W, Koenig N, Straube A

source: J Rehabil Med. 2009 Jul;41(8):674-80

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Vibration therapy in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study exploring its effects on tone, muscle force, sensation and functional performance

Rehabilitation in MS has been shown to be effective in improving physical and psychological aspects of the disease, especially when a certain degree of disability is present. The authors of this study aimed to investigate whether the addition of whole body vibration (WBV) to a programme of regular exercise could improve the benefits of the exercise itself. They found that the exercise improved physical and psychological aspects in those who participated in the study but the addition of WBV did not add any significant benefit to this improvement, in either case.

authors: Schyns F, Paul L, Finlay K, Ferguson C, Noble E

source: Clin Rehabil. 2009 Jun 26

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Drug manufacturer receives Fast Track designation from FDA

source: UK MS Society

Pharmaceutical firm Biogen Idec has announced that the American drug watchdog the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for its MS drug PEGylated interferon beta-1a (BIIB017).

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"Benign" course of MS evaluated with MRI and other imaging methods by European collaborators

source: US National MS Society

A group of experts in MS imaging has published new information on imaging and clinical findings that might help explain why some people experience a mild course of MS, also known as "benign" MS.

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UK and US MS Society-funded study unlocks part of the mystery of remyelination in MS

source: UK MS Society & US MS Society

Researchers working in Cambridge, UK, and San Francisco, USA, have discovered clues about how stem cells promote myelin repair.

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Support for people with MS in Venezuela

source: Asociación Venezolana de Esclerosis Múltiple

On 19 June 2009 members of the Asociación Venezolana de Esclerosis Múltiple (AVEDEM) attended the official opening of the new rehabilitation unit at the Central Hospital in Valencia, Venezuela.

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UK MS Society-funded study investigates experiences of partners of people with MS

source: UK MS Society

A UK MS Society-funded study has highlighted the impact that MS has on partners’ lives and demonstrates the need for support and services for partners of people with MS.

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