Featured News

  • A special compound from the herb Andrographis paniculata) called andrographolide treats Progressive Forms of Multiple Sclerosis, being the first treatment shown to significantly benefit  PPMS. There are randomized controlled clinical trials (140 mg orally administered twice per day). More details in this patent application. Note: Andrographolide is a compound isolated from the leaves and roots of Andrographis paniculata, a medicinal herb with a long history of use in both Chinese Medine and Ayurveda (known as Kalmegh). Several studies had been evaluated this particular compound. Note: Worth exploring this herb from the Eastern medicine perspective as well (as a bitter herb, will promote healthy bile production). N.b. problems with bile metabolism are associated with MS .

  • Pomegranate oil for preventing and treating MS — New drug patent application. Technical: why it works: pomegranate is the richest plant source of estrone, and the pomegranate seed oil also contains testosterone and estriol. It contains a wide range of polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins with a potent antioxidant in vitro and to additionally inhibit the eicosanoid enzyme lipoxygenase.

  • Brocolli Sprouts pretreated with pulsed electric fields for treating MS. Interesting study, indeed. Very creative. Broccoli sprouts had been researched in the past and had been shown beneficial to improve decrease brain inflammation and degeneration. Sulforaphane is the key ingredient in Broccoli sprouts. This study goes one step further, as it uses sulforaphane-enriched broccoli sprouts which had been pretreated with pulsed electric fields. This supplementation significantly improved markers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in animal models of MS. Technical: pretreating the sprouts with pulsed electric fields triggers the biological role of normal broccoli against lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia.  A second new study on benefits of sulforaphane for brain health (including promotion of neurogenesis inhibition of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation) reviewed here.  

  • New Book. A  new book looking at the research-based benefits of curcumin for various neurological conditions: “Curcumin for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: Neurochemical and Pharmacological Properties” by Tahira Farooqui (Editor),Akhlaq A Farooqui (Editor). It has a special chapter on curcumin for MS.

 

Vitamins/ Herbs/Natural Supplements & Diet For Managing MS Symptoms

  • Vitamin D. Five new studies.  The role in the peripheric nervous system is the topic of this study. (technical: calcitriol is involved in myelination, axonal homogeneity of peripheral nerves, and neuronal-cell differentiation). Vitamin D as an immunomodulator and its benefits to manage MS is described in this second study (review- study). The protective role of vitamin D for MS reviewed in the third study. Technical: higher serum 25(OH)D levels robustly predicted a lower degree of MS activity, MRI lesion load, brain atrophy, and clinical progression during the 5 years of follow-up. The benefits of vitamin D for MS, discussing mechanisms of action in this study (technical: 1,25(OH)2D3 induces super-enhancers bound by VDR). The fifth study is looking at the impact of vitamin D supplementation for MS and other autoimmune conditions.

  • Medical marijuana — a new review of multiple studies (including randomized controlled studies) for various neurological disorders, including MS. Also, check the benefits of marijuana-based drug Sativex in the last section.

  • Adherence to healthy dietary patterns may reduce systemic inflammation, the severity of fatigue, MS attacks, improved quality of life and balance weight especially body fat in MS patients, is the conclusion of this new study.

 

Other Natural Therapies

  • Ozone therapy. The benefits of ozone (O3) therapy for MS- a systematic review study, showing many benefits of O3- from improving blood circulation and activating RBC metabolism to antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects.

  • Exercise. This new study evaluated the benefits of 1.aerobic exercise, 2. yoga/balance, and 3.  resistance/strength training. All types were well tolerated and effective at reducing symptoms of MS, like fatigue. Aerobic exercise interventions and yoga/balance interventions specifically showed improved quality of life. 

  • Using autophagy to treat MS. The concept of targeting autophagy to treat MS and autoimmune conditions is explored in this study. Note: autophagy is a key detox mechanism, the body’s mechanism to eliminate old, damaged cells, repair, recycle and rejuvenate. How do you trigger autophagy? Autophagy occurs naturally during starvation, thus fasting (and fasting mimicking diets like keto diet) is great ways to induce autophagy. Sleep, exercise, and meditation can also promote autophagy.

  • Focusing on various brain/immune cells to treat MS: microglia, macrophages and astrocytes. Targeting microglia and macrophages to treat neuroinflammation in MS is the core idea of this new research paper, while this new study focuses on the involvement of astrocytes in neuroinflammation. I wrote about the many roles of astrocytes in this article about the glymphatic system here. 

  • Neurotransmitters and MS. Excess glutamate as a source of demyelination and fatigue in MS, suggests this study. Yes, I wrote in details about excess glutamate- MS link here. Orexin A supplementation can improve the animal model of MS, according to this new study. It makes sense- I wrote about the orexin deficiency-MS link here and how to boost orexin levels naturally here. 

 

More News

  • Hormones as key triggers of  autoimmunity. The hormone prolactin (which also acts as a cytokine) may be a key player in autoimmunity, according to this study. High levels of prolactin had been linked with MS and other autoimmune conditions. On the other hand, this new study explores the protective effects of a neurosteroid hormone (3α,5α-THP, allopregnanolone) against neuroinflammation and autoimmunity (animal models). 

  • The first “MS atlas”, which is a molecular map of brain lesions was created to better understand the underlying mechanisms driving the progression of MS based on the lesions. More details on their website msatlas.dk and here. 

  • Brain lesions affecting the grey matter are also important to evaluate the progression of MS. This topic had been researched before. This new study found that the majority of individuals with MS have gray matter lesions, and these lesions are also linked with brain atrophy and worsening of physical disability.  

  • This new study explores the impairment of the mitochondria in neurodegenerative conditions.

  • A review of key factors involved in the development and progression of MS.

  • Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) — why is misdiagnosed as MS and how to improve the chances to get the right diagnosis (this is important, as MS drugs can aggravate NMOSD)- more details in this study.

  • Acute stress (work and social life stressors, but also physical stress like hot weather and sleep deprivation) correlate with the increased number of MS relapses but not with the onset of MS, to this new study.

  • The role of infections- cytomegalovirus (CMV) in MS and autoimmunity is evaluated in this new study.

Environmental Pollution, Smoke

  • Increased electromagnetic field (EMF), interacting with multiple environmental pollutants as the tripping Point for increased neurological diseases/deaths in the Western World. A  new review of changes related to EMF exposure and pollutants in the last 50 years. Note: Great article. Keep in mind the wide range of EMF- from computer and power lines to WiFi, cell phones, TV, smart meters, microwave, and diagnostic tools like X-rays.

  • Cigarettes are bad, but nicotine is actually protective; those who snuff have a lower risk of developing MS compared with individuals who never used snuff, according to this new study.

The Gut-Brain axis Gut Microbiome

  • The gut brain-axis explored in this study, for SPMS. More evidence about how it works in both directions: the gut microbiota triggers an autoimmune attack on the white matter, while at the same time, the brain triggers changes in intestinal functions.

  • MS inflammation can be reduced by improving the gut microbiome, is the conclusion of this study (animal models of MS). Multiple mechanisms described. I wrote about MS microbiome here.

  • Improving gut microbiome (ie using fecal transplant or probiotics) as a therapy to treat systemic inflammation is the subject of this new study.

Other Symptoms/Conditions Associated With MS

  • This study supports the need to evaluate and treat not just MS, but also the other conditions commonly associated with MS- particularly depression, anxiety, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol levels, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

  • Does MS increase the risk of cancer? This study didn’t find a correlation between MS (the disease) and increased risk- however, a higher risk of cancer was found in those patients switching more than two DMTs (disease-modifying treatments).

  • Most male patients with MS have lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction, according to this new study.

  • Depression and alexithymia (again) linked with MS in this new study. Alexithymia is defined by having difficulty in defining, discriminating and putting the feelings and thoughts in words; limited fantasy worlds and mostly focused on outer world realities than the own feelings. Note: Check out my blog next month, I will have an article on this topic – on the link between personality traits, including alexithymia and MS.

Prescription  Drugs 

  • Sativex ameliorates spasticity in MS. This new study showing an improvement from baseline in spasticity ≥20%–30% evaluated on a specific score/scale.

  • Low-Dose Naltrexone back in the news. How it works (in different doses) and how could be used to improve pain and quality of life in MS, IBD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, anxiety, depression- in this new study.

  • We may see more personalized treatments for treating MS. This study looks at biomarkers to evaluate optimal treatment to Copaxone.

  • This new study looked at the efficacy of Interferon Beta-1b used long term (10+ years). The conclusion “ After more than 17 years of disease evolution, more than half (65.38%) of the patients present a mild disability score [..]. The initiation of IFNβ-1b lead to a significant reduction of the relapse rates. A reduced number of patients (<25%) transitioned from RRMS to SPMS”

  • Diabetes drug dulaglutide (GLP-1 agonist) offers neuroprotection and may also modulate the immune system. This study found dulaglutide to ameliorate MS (in animals). I wrote about MS and sugar metabolism link- Could MS be nothing other than diabetes?  

  • Rapamycin. This study looks at the aging process of brain cells (cell senescence) in cases PPMS and how this process is different from healthy controls. The drug rapamycin shows the ability to reverse this abnormal aging process seen in PPMS.

  • The link between hepatitis vaccine and MS/other demyelinating diseases is explored in this study. While researchers said the results are inconclusive, they did find that the events were mainly reported after booster doses and the overall reporting rate was 6.5 per 1,000,000 doses of vaccine sold.

  • The benefits of autologous adult stem cells for treating MS are reviewed in this study. Note: be aware of the risks of stem cell therapy, too. 

  • Re-activation of MS is common after a drug is discontinued due to serious side effects. This study is about natalizumab. Various factors (ie higher number of relapses, the number of MRI lesions before treatment start, fewer natalizumab infusions) were associated with increased risk for post-drug disease reactivation, according to this new systematic review/meta-analysis.

Adverse Events- MS Drugs 

Quick note: Starting next month, this section will no longer be in the news  (unless there are some super important news). I followed the safety of the new MS drugs for over a year, and I got an idea.  

  • Prednisone. Liver toxicity from using prednisone for MS — 3 case studies plus literature reviewed including 50 cases of liver toxicity. 

  • Alemtuzumab.Pulmonary aspergillosis found postmortem- linked with alemtuzumab use for MS (case study).

  • Alemtuzumab- eye complications (acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy) from using alemtuzumab for MS (case study).

  • Fingolimod-brain infection (Listeria monocytogenes rhombencephalitis) liked with Fingolimod use for MS (new case study)

  • Fingolimod. Chronic HPV infections (warts)-5 new cases linked with fingolimod, suggesting an increased risk of other HPV driven conditions such as cervical cancer and non-melanoma associated skin cancer following fingolimod use – new study.

  • Dimethyl fumarate. Multiple areas of bone marrow edema (swelling) detected on imaging tests- linked with dimethyl fumarate use (case study).