Multiple sclerosis

An existing drug may slow MS progression after showing early promise in a world-first clinical trial. Alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory medicine, has progressed to the second stage of the Octopus trial. The diabetes medicine metformin, which was also being assessed, has been removed from the trial after failing to demonstrate positive [...]

A Mediterranean diet was associated with lower odds of developing MS in a study of adults in Iran. People whose diets most closely followed the Mediterranean pattern had 47 per cent lower odds of MS than those who followed it least closely. Adequate intake of key vitamins and minerals was also associated with lower odds [...]

MS fatigue was associated with pain, sleep problems, stress, anxiety and depression in people with relapsing-remitting disease, a study found. Greater disability and walking difficulties were also linked to more severe fatigue among people with mild to moderate disability. The findings suggest assessments may need to consider factors associated with fatigue as well as the [...]

An MS therapy centre in Wolverhampton has closed until further notice after flash flooding damaged the site. The Wolverhampton Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre said the damage happened on 28 August after storms caused flash flooding across the region. The centre will remain closed while the damage is assessed and discussions take place with insurers. [...]

A new oral drug reduced relapses more than established drug teriflunomide in adults with multiple sclerosis in two late-stage clinical trials. Remibrutinib also showed clinically meaningful results in slowing disability progression compared with teriflunomide. Novartis said remibrutinib was well tolerated and showed no liver safety issues, consistent with previous studies. The REMODEL-1 and [...]

Daily step patterns may help track disability in progressive MS and provide a fuller picture of disability than occasional clinic assessments, a study found. Researchers analysing more than two years of data from 529 people found that those with greater disability or walking impairment generally took fewer daily steps. The differences were most pronounced during [...]

A Redditch man plans to cycle the length of the UK without sleeping to raise awareness and funds for the MS Society. Max Williams plans to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats as the first stage of a wider challenge in which he hopes to cycle through six countries in six months without sleep. [...]

A stroke drug may help preserve and repair myelin damaged by multiple sclerosis, according to a review of animal studies. Nimodipine was also linked to reduced inflammation, nerve damage and disease severity in several of the studies reviewed. Myelin is the protective coating around nerve fibres that is damaged in multiple sclerosis, or MS, disrupting [...]

The FDA has cleared a Phase 2 trial of Lucid-MS, allowing the experimental oral therapy to be tested in people with multiple sclerosis for the first time. The investigational treatment is designed to protect and repair myelin, the fatty sheath surrounding nerve fibres that is damaged in multiple sclerosis. An earlier Phase 1 study involving [...]

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who take part in structured exercise programmes tend to report lower levels of fatigue, according to an umbrella review. The strongest evidence was found for cardiorespiratory exercise. Resistance training, which often involves weights or resistance bands, was also linked to lower self-reported fatigue, although results varied more between studies. Fatigue [...]