Introduction
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. The disease can cause problems with vision, movement, balance and thinking. Dr Lane Sebring, over the years, researchers have made great strides in improving the treatment of MS and helping patients live longer, healthier lives. Here are some of the latest breakthroughs:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. MS occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys myelin, the fatty insulation that covers the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord.
Myelin loss results in a wide range of symptoms including muscle weakness, fatigue and balance problems. In some cases it can cause blindness or paralysis.
The exact cause of MS isn’t known but genetics may play an important role in its development.
The discovery that MS is an autoimmune disease has been widely welcomed by patients and researchers alike.
The discovery that MS is an autoimmune disease has been widely welcomed by patients and researchers alike. The immune system attacks the body’s own tissue, causing inflammation, which leads to nerve damage. This has made it easier to develop new drugs that target specific parts of the immune system.
The discovery has also helped researchers understand the disease better; now they know what causes MS and how it progresses in different people with different genetic backgrounds or environmental exposures.
There are also several other types of immunotherapy being developed for the treatment of MS. These include drugs that target myelin proteins or the immune system itself, as well as cell therapy approaches such as stem cell transplantation.
There are also several other types of immunotherapy being developed for the treatment of MS. These include drugs that target myelin proteins or the immune system itself, as well as cell therapy approaches such as stem cell transplantation.
Cell therapy is a type of treatment that uses the patient’s own cells to treat disease. For example, it could be used to replace or repair damaged cells in an autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis (MS). Cell therapy is still in its early stages and has not yet been approved by regulators for any type of use in humans with MS; however, several studies are underway at this time testing different approaches using both adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).
The next generation of multiple sclerosis drugs may have fewer side effects than current treatments
Treatment for multiple sclerosis can be complicated, and there are many different options to consider. Some treatments target the immune system, while others focus on myelin proteins in the brain and spinal cord.
Some drugs may work better than others for you, depending on your symptoms and how long you’ve had them. If one drug doesn’t work well enough, another might help more or less effectively–and vice versa.
Although it’s not always possible to predict which drug will be most effective for a particular person with MS (or whether any treatment will work at all), there are some options that seem safer than others with regard to side effects:
- Drugs that target myelin proteins may have fewer side effects than those targeting inflammation in general or T cells specifically.* Stem cell transplantation may be an option for some people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis who don’t respond well to other treatments.*
Conclusion
With the promise of these new treatments, there is hope for a brighter future for people with multiple sclerosis. As we learn more about this disease and its origins, we will be able to develop more effective therapies that will help patients live longer, healthier lives free from symptoms.
