Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment Breakthroughs Offer Big Hope for an Unpredictable Disease
Multiple sclerosis (MS), is a disease of the central nervous system. It occurs due to damage to a tissue called myelin, which protects nerve fibers. When myelin gets damaged, it can affect the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.8 million people live with the disease – and prevalence has increased in every region around the world over the past decade.
MS is a complex condition with symptoms that vary from person to person in their type, duration, and severity. While there is no cure yet for MS and its cause remains unknown, the past thirty years have been an exciting time in MS research. Dramatic advancements have yielded promising treatments that reduce MS symptoms and improve the quality of life for people who live with the condition.
What are the symptoms of MS?
MS symptoms can be unpredictable. Some people who have MS will experience mild or short-term symptoms, while others may become unable to walk, see, or speak. These symptoms may fluctuate with weather and health. For example, some symptoms worsen during an infection, such as a UTI, or during hot weather.
One distinctive symptom is called the “MS Hug.” It’s an uncomfortable or painful sensation of tightness or squeezing around the torso. The MS Hug is often one of the earlier symptoms of MS, and it can last anywhere from a few seconds up to several hours.
Other symptoms include:
• Muscle stiffness, numbness, or tingling
• Difficulty walking
• Blindness, blurred vision, or color distortion
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
What are the types of Multiple Sclerosis?
There are four main types of MS corresponding to disease stage:
• Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS): This describes patients who may have inflammation or myelin damage that can lead to early symptoms, but who do not meet the criteria for an MS diagnosis. Not all cases of CIS will develop into MS.
• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS): During this stage, MS alternates between flare-ups of symptoms and periods of remission. Remissions can last anywhere between weeks and years. This is the most common type of MS, with about 85% of diagnoses occurring at this stage.
• Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS): This is a progression of RRMS, as symptoms grow more severe and remission periods become less frequent.
• Primary Progressive MS (PPMS): In this type of MS, symptoms will continue to worsen without periods of remission. This type accounts for about 10% of MS diagnoses.
Who is most likely to get it?
For years, doctors believed that MS primarily affects white people of northern European descent. For that reason, most MS research focused on those demographics. Recent research has changed that focus, however. Increasingly, African American women are being diagnosed with MS, as are Hispanic immigrants to the United States. Studies are examining more racial and ethnic populations to get a clearer picture of the groups who have an increased risk of MS.
Generally, people who have an increased risk of MS are:
• Younger adults between 20 and 50
• Women
• People who have family members who have had MS
• People with obesity, especially obesity during childhood
• People who have had certain autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis
• People who smoke
• People with low levels of Vitamin D
How is it treated?
Due to recent treatment advancements, more than 20 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) now exist for MS that can slow damage to the central nervous system and make relapses occur less frequently.
Additional therapies are undergoing clinical trials to find more ways to slow the progression of MS and to repair the functioning of the central nervous system.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis
For those diagnosed with MS, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help manage the symptoms and delay advancement of the disease. While individuals should consult their doctor to best understand how to manage their condition, common recommendations include:
• Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid excess sugar, animal fats, and salt
• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Aerobic exercise, yoga, tai chi and water activities are all considered to be beneficial. The best exercise routine for each individual will depend on their stage of the disease and their level of mobility
• Manage stress and prioritize sleep
• Socialize and maintain your interpersonal relationships
• Engage your mind by completing puzzles, brain games, etc. to help maintain cognitive function
• Adapt your environment to suit your physical needs and ensure a safe living space. Consider installing grab bars or other assistive devices to aid in safe mobility
Today, researchers are making inroads and offering hope to the millions of people living with Multiple Sclerosis. Not content to simply treat the disease, they continue to search for the cause of MS, and with it, its cure.