Some people with MS have progressive symptoms despite stable MRI scans. But why? This video explains 6 theories as to why this occurs and potential treatments.
Six Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Theories
progressive multiple sclerosis
Differences between Relapsing remitting MS and Progressive MS
A clinician discusses the differences between relapsing-remitting and progressive MS and the benefits of beginning MS treatment early.
The University of Bath is looking for people with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis to take part in a survey. Can you help please?
University of Bath – Multiple Sclerosis
As I never tire of mentioning one of the purposes of this blog is to help promote academic surveys into various different medical conditions. I have a background in medical market research so I take a professional interest in the area.
In fact one of my key roles has been to develop research panels of people with multiple sclerosis. Interestingly (and importantly) almost all the research conducted was with people with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). There seemed no interest in other kinds of MS such as Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) or Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). If you are interested in the different types of multiple sclerosis and low the various populations fall out please have a look at some of our previous research here.
So I was delighted when Liz Sheils , a Post-Graduate researcher in psychology at the University of Bath, asked us to help with locating people who might help her with research with people with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
Sheils writes “The role of positive psychology in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
You are being invited to take part in a research study to investigate the role of positive psychology in individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis. Please take time to read the following information and to consider whether you wish to take part. Contact details are provided below if you wish to discuss the research further.
What is the purpose of the study?
The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of positive psychology (such as self-efficacy) to the explanation of anxiety and depression symptoms within progress multiple sclerosis.
Who can take part?
Participants who have been diagnosed with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
What does the research involve?
You will be asked to complete a range of online questionnaires. They will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
Do I have to take part?
You are not required to take part, participation is entirely up to you. You can withdraw from the research at any time without giving an explanation.
Will my answers be kept confidential?
All the information will be kept completely confidential and stored securely.
Results will be written up for the purpose of a dissertation and may be published, however no identifiable information will be available to see.
Contact for further information
Thank you for your time reading the research information sheet. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Liz Sheils, MSc Health Psychology Student, via email: es279@bath.ac.uk
If you would like to take part in the online survey please visit this website:
https://bathreg.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/multiple-sclerosis-positive-psychology”
Thanks very much in advance for your attention.
MS News flash – Repairing nerve cell damage in multiple sclerosis could lead to a “cure” .
Current multiple sclerosis research
One of the central objectives of this blog is to keep our readers up to date with current and future research into multiple sclerosis.
One of the key needs, as far as we can see, is for therapies that focus on myelin repair and slow or stop the progression of disability in multiple sclerosis.
Earlier this year the UK’s MS Society announce such a research project. They are are co-funding a 3-year myelin repair project costing £405,000.
The project is one of eight that are being jointly funded through the British Council’s regenerative medicine initiative and BIRAX (Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership). In fact there are a number of different projects also looking diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s and liver disease as well as multiple sclerosis.
According to the MS Society the collaboration of Dr Mark Kotter at the University of Cambridge and Professor Shlomo Rotshenker at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the project aims to identify novel ways of promoting myelin sheath repair and preventing nerve cell death.
They will focus on removing the debris built up during myelin damage, and stimulating remyelination of exposed nerve fibres. By doing so they could be able to undo some of the damage cause by demyelination which is itself a cause of multiple sclerosis.
Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of MS Society said: “We know that people with progressive MS desperately want treatments that can slow, stop or reverse MS progression. Collectively, we are able to fund more projects compared to if we were working in isolation and we hope this will provide us with vital clues about the condition and help us discover potential new treatments.”
To find out more about current MS Society supported research by going here http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-research/projects/cure.
So what do you think about this research? Will it be of benefit to you or a loved one? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!
Thanks very much in advance!