JUNE 2019 MS NEWS- Wahls Protocol Works, Best Therapies For Myelin Repair, The Benefits of Yoga, Meditation, Exercise & More

Featured News 

• This new study evaluated the benefits of the Wahls Protocol, and Dr.Terry Wahls is one of the authors. This study found improvements in lipid and cholesterol biomarkers (especially TC and HDL-C) while following Wahls protocol and these positive changes correlate with improvement in fatigue. 

• The best therapies aiming to repair myelin are presented in this study– including clemastine fumarate, benztropine, and miconazole (technical: potentially can augment the function of endogenous OPCs), as well as mesenchymal stem cells, high-dose biotin, and opicinumab.

• This new study is a great review of mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on aging and related conditions: neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc.

• A review of the key drivers of MS progression from Mayo Clinic MS researcher Dr. Lucchinetti in this new article.

• Exosomes– a very hot topic. Exostomes are tiny membrane vesicles that are involved in many aspects of normal brain physiology. They facilitate communication between brain cells and between the brain and the body. This new study explores the use of exosomes to treat MS, diabetes, lupus and other autoimmune conditions. 

Exercise, Yoga, Mindfulness Meditation, CBT, Brain HQ 

• Combined exercise training (aerobic plus resistance training) 3 times a week can help women with MS, however, it seems that a more intensive exercises training could be more effective, according to this new randomized controlled study. 

• This new review of multiple studies (including randomized controlled trials) supports many benefits of yoga. Yoga may help manage symptoms of MS-especially pain, stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression; it may improve limb strength, balance, self-efficacy, walking speed, and ankle movements, bladder function and overall the quality of life. 

• Why do people respond differently to brain exercises? This study evaluated a home-based brain training called Brain HQ in individuals with MS. Researchers found that the best outcomes correlated with certain psychological traits (conscientiousness-orderliness), the type of MS (relapsing-remitting course) and brain volume (higher grey matter volume). Note: I highly recommend BrainHQ to everyone, it was created by top neuroscientist Dr. Michael Merzenich, and his team and there is a lot of research behind it. Here is the link (you can try it for free daily for a few minutes, however, you would get more benefit from longer sessions) https://brainhq.com

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps reduce fatigue in individuals with MS, according to this new randomized controlled trial.

• Mindfulness-based therapy (internet-based) is effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and fatigue of MS patients, suggests this new randomized controlled study.

Mindset/ Mental Resilience/Social Connections To Manage MS

• Building resilience is very important to manage MS. This new study found that a special training (cognitive-behavioral approach aiming to improve control, commitment & challenge with problems, showed significant positive effects on increasing the resiliency of women with MS.

• A survey study of 748 Americans with MS regarding the areas of their life that are most important related to the quality of life reveals the following are the top priorities: social relationships, health, independence,

• Experiencing deep social connections, cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose, and authentic living may improve psychological well-being, increase immunity, better quality physical and emotional health, and enhanced recovery associated with the MS, according to this new study conducted in men with MS, age 55-71.

Natural Supplements For MS

• Anthocyanins. The benefits of these flavonoids found in berries and other foods are evaluated in this review-study. They show anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and protection against neurodegeneration/neuron death.

• Curcumin. Using curcumin may help reduce the harmful effects of oxidative damage and can be effective in MS.

• Phytochemicals. The therapeutic potential of plant chemicals (phytochemicals) to improve neuroinflammation, metabolic alterations, and immune/inflammatory responses are explored in this study (Technical: by improving NLRP3 inflammasome pathways, a key player in neurodegenerative conditions and depression).

• Luteolin. The plant compound luteolin may have potential to improve MS, suggests this new study (animal models of MS). Technical: luteolin shows anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and neurotrophic effects.

• Crocin. A key ingredient from saffron- crocin, has strong antioxidant effects and could be used for the management of MS, suggests this new study (animal models of MS)

• Andrographolide back in the news, with this new study (review of its benefits) and how may inhibit the onset and/or progression of MS, Parkinson’s and other conditions. In March 2019, I reviewed a drug patent application based on this compound, where researchers suggest andrographolide as being the first treatment shown to significantly benefit PPMS.

• The Bu Shen Yi Sui Formula (Chinese herbal combination) may help repair the neurons, suggests this new study (animal models of MS).

Gut Microbiome & Probiotics 

• The link between diet, gut microbiota, and autoimmunity are explored in this study (animal models of MS). A diet rich in phytoestrogens (plant compounds with a similar chemical structure to our own body’s estrogen) was associated with milder disease.

• A new study/review of the benefits of probiotics and their promising results in modulating inflammatory diseases like MS, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBD. 

More News 

• This new study reviews the current understanding of the lymphatic system in the brain (aka the glymphatic system) and its impact on MS, Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions. I wrote in details about the glymphatic system here and how to improve it naturally here.

• What is the impact of alcohol on MS? This new study (animal models of MS) suggests that moderate alcohol consumption can ameliorate this disease (technical: by modulating microglial activation while also promoting an anti-inflammatory gut microbiome)

• Note that this topic had been researched before, with mixed results. My thoughts: I think is best to reduce alcohol consumption, ar at least reduce it. 

• The importance of microglia in myelin repair and how these brain cells can be used as a therapeutic target to train neurodegeneration- are covered in this new study.

• Therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in MS is evaluated in this new study. I wrote about ECS and its impact on the brain and the immune system here.

• The concept of using serotonin pathway(serotonergic system) to manage MS is described in this new study. I wrote in details about serotonin deficiency and MS here and how to increase serotonin naturally or with meds here.

• The brain-kidney link is explored in this new study, that found that MS-related disability correlates with a decline in kidney function (eGFR).

• Menopause seems to be a turning point to a more progressive phase of MS, and smoking seems to speed up the disability process- is the conclusion of this new study.

Genetics

• In this new study, 3 SNPs show a significant association with the proportion of active lesions (rs3130253/MOG), the incidence of cortical grey matter lesions (rs1064395/NCAN) and the proportion of remyelinated lesions (rs5742909/CTLA4)-based on autopsy tissue.

• A review of MS genetics in this new book.