MSAA What’s New in MS Research 3/22

[Marco]

Newsletter Topics

Assessing the impact of obesity and depression on people with MS

Evidence of neuroprotective effects from stem cell transplant in progressive MS

Change in brain volume on MRI predicts disease progression in MS

Reduction in lesion volume and number seen on MRI with ublituximab

Study shows early treatment with Mavenclad® lessened MS burden in later years

Sustained relapse control over four years with Zeposia®, while the benefit-to-risk profile remains unchanged

Sketching a picture of those who do not receive disease-modifying therapy for their MS

New ACTH gel available for acute exacerbations

Searching for the Causes of Ethnic Variations in MS

Shared decision-making in MS: Study finds room for improvement

Shared decision-making and cognitive impairment: a dilemma in MS care

One more indicator of MS clinicians’ dedication to their patients

https://mymsaa.org/news/whats-new-in...ch-march-2022/

[loopey]

Thanks for the link!

[REG53]

Thank you Marco.

[palmtree]

This raises a question for me. Our lesions seem to look less pronounced on our MRIs as the time goes on. Clinicians tend to regard them as in the past. Something insignificant. I have always been under the impression that the lesions will continue to progress leading to decline.

Of course, the new treatments are causing improvements in function that are awesome.

Will we experience improvement or are we just developing neuronal pathways to compensate? Everything takes longer for me to remember things, thing of things I want to say and get things done.

[pennstater]

This raises a question for me. Our lesions seem to look less pronounced on our MRIs as the time goes on. Clinicians tend to regard them as in the past. Something insignificant. I have always been under the impression that the lesions will continue to progress leading to decline.

Of course, the new treatments are causing improvements in function that are awesome.

Will we experience improvement or are we just developing neuronal pathways to compensate? Everything takes longer for me to remember things, thing of things I want to say and get things done.

It is confusing. I remember reading a few different studies over the years.

Time lapse MRIs have shown lesions can appear and disappear, not causing relapses. These may be missed if not getting MRIs on a frequent basis. What is their role in MS?

In other studies, lesions that shrink or disappear over time and leave a black hole are thought to result in progression. It may represent a loss we can't compensate for, or one that a new pathway for signals may develop, but not be as efficient (which is one of the theories on MS fatigue, caused by extra effort to follow new pathway).

But I think any treatment that can restore myelin and axonal damage will help improve symptoms. If it can fully restore it 100%, I like to think we would see full improvement over time as our strength increases. Likewise, if a treatment results in different neural pathways, improvement can happen. But if the new pathways aren't as efficient or effective, some symptoms may improve, but remain.

[Mamabug]

I don't know if this relates to your question or not, Palmtree. My understanding is, that after I reach SPMS, I no longer experience MS flares or develop new lesions. But, continuing damage continues to occur in my old, existing lesions, resulting in continued progression of disease and symptoms.

That almost sound like the opposite of what you are talking about -- that lesions begin to look less pronounced.

I guess I don't know the answer.