Research News

Muscle endurance in early MS

30 January 2012

Israeli researchers have developed tests that show that people in the first years after diagnosis with MS have 40% less leg muscle endurance than people without the condition. Their study involved 52 people with MS and 28 non MS controls

Medical News Today

Fatigue - A to Z of MS

CCSVI studies

27 January 2012

The latest reports from the seven CCSVI studies being supported by the National MS Society and the Canadian MS Society have been published. Some interim data has been published but none of the studies is yet complete. The same report appears on both charities' websites.

National MS Society (USA)
Canadian MS Society

CCSVI - A to Z of MS

Tysabri trial for secondary progressive MS

26 January 2012

Biogen have announced a phase 3 trial called Ascend, which will look at the effectiveness of Tysabri in secondary progressive MS. The study will enrol 850 people in 15 countries. Participants will receive either Tysabri or placebo every four weeks for 96 weeks.

Biogen Idec press release

Nataizumab (Tysabri) - A to Z of MS

EMA announces review of fingolimod (Gilenya)

20 January 2012

The European Medicines Agency has begun a review of the benefits and risks of Gilenya (fingolimod) following the death of one person in the United States less than 24 hours after the first dose and reports of heart problems in other people.

While the review of this new oral treatment for relapsing remitting MS is ongoing, doctors are advised to increase cardiac monitoring of people after first dose.

European Medicines Agency

MS Trust news item on death following first dose of fingolimod

A to Z of MS - Fingolimod

Stem cells to oligodendrocytes

17 January 2012

Researchers in Florida have for the first time managed to get umbilical cord stem cells to convert into oligodendrocytes - the nervous system cells that produce myelin. They hope this laboratory work will lead to better understanding of the damage that occurs in MS and other conditions

Eureka Alert

Stem cells - A to Z of MS

Nerve rerouting and cognition

10 January 2012

In a small study involving 16 people with MS, researchers have suggested that the rerouting of nerve messages around an area of damage may have an impact of cognitive function.

Medical Xpress
Science Daily

Cognition - A to Z of MS

Spasticity better after switching from beta interferon

09 December 2011

Spasticity affects many people with MS and is a condition where muscle tone becomes greatly increased. This means that the level of tension or the resistance to movement of the muscle affects how people move their limbs or how they hold them in position. More...

Does lifestyle affect MS progression?

05 December 2011

Belgian researchers have investigated whether a number of factors - consumption of alcohol, caffeinated drinks, fish and cigarette smoking - could affect the time it takes to progress to EDSS 6 (needing a walking aid to walk about 100m). 1372 people with MS were surveyed. More...