Subscribe to the latest MS research news by email by entering your info below:
Background: Effective treatments for progressive MS will need to target the pathophysiology of the disease The drivers or mechanisms that lead to damage in progressive MS are unlike those in relapsing-remitting MS—hence different approaches are needed to identify novel therapeutics. Progressive MS causes... Read More
Background: It has been 20 years since disease-modifying drugs became available for MS. How are they being used? Interferons were the first disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved in Canada in 1995 and continue to represent one of the first line treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis... Read More
Background: Nearly 20% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) use cannabis (also known as marijuana) to help them manage symptoms such as pain. In MS, men experience greater cognitive dysfunction than women. Recent research has discovered that cannabis contributes to cognitive dysfunction, however... Read More
Background: Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS ) is a single episode of neurological symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Individuals affected by CIS have a high chance of developing MS after CIS and it is unclear why some people develop MS and others do not. Many research studies are working hard... Read More
May 11, 2017- Toronto, ON- Three important steps are required when taking an idea from the research laboratory into a viable treatment. The first step is the discovery phase (also known as basic science) where researchers aim to identify new targets, such as a protein, that may be contributing to a... Read More
Background: Canada has the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide. Since the onset of MS typically happens between the ages of 20 and 40 years, the most productive years of life may be affected with challenges such as unemployment and disability. The MS Society of Canada’s Action on... Read More
Background: Inflammation and neurodegeneration are two characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS). These responses cause damage to the nerve cells in the brain, preventing the cells from communicating with one another and leading to the varying symptoms seen in individuals with MS. One process that... Read More
Background Preliminary, unpublished results from a placebo-controlled, double-blind phase I/II pan-Canadian CCSVI clinical trial were presented at the Society for Interventional Radiology annual scientific meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 8th, 2017. Jointly funded by the MS Society of Canada and... Read More
Physical activity is an important priority for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2015, the MS Society of Canada posted the MS Wellness Survey , an online questionnaire designed to capture the voices of people living with MS about how they view wellness, what they do to achieve optimal wellness, Read More
Background Physical exercise – in particular resistance training such as lifting weights, and cardiovascular or aerobic training such as running and swimming – has become a key component to the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS research community has come a long way from viewing exercise... Read More
Background In people living with multiple sclerosis, the lesions in the brain that result from damage to myelin can arise from different processes. The “outside-in” process reflects the attack of myelin from inflammation-producing cells that enter the central nervous system from outside and cause damage. Read More
Background One of the ways that researchers gain important insights into a complex disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) is by studying how different molecules interact in order to trigger and drive the disease. Certain molecules can play multiple, sometimes conflicting roles in the MS disease process. Read More
Background Currently, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) appear to work by blunting the destructive autoimmune response that targets tissues in the central nervous system (CNS). For many individuals living with MS, DMTs offer measurable therapeutic benefits by suppressing... Read More
REVISION: June 3, 2016 Background The precise factors that cause multiple sclerosis continue to puzzle researchers today, although the prevailing view is that a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors interacts to trigger the emergence of the disease. Over the past three decades, Read More
Background The human body activates a complex repair program in response to damage to myelin, the substance that coats and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS). The repair program involves the generation of new myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes that apply new myelin... Read More
Background As the central nervous system (CNS) develops, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) spread throughout the brain and spinal cord. Over time, they develop into mature oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin – the insular coating that surrounds nerve fibers and allows... Read More
Background Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) describes a theory first posited in 2008 by Dr. Paolo Zamboni (University of Ferrara, Italy) hypothesizing that people living with multiple sclerosis experience narrowing or blockage of the veins in the head and neck, resulting in the build-up... Read More
Background Many people living with multiple sclerosis may also be affected by other chronic diseases. When someone is living with more than one condition, those conditions are termed “comorbidities”. Last year, MS Society Dr. Donald Paty Career Development Award and Operating Grant holder Dr. Ruth Ann... Read More
Background The bacteria living in our gut – our gut’s microbiome – and our immune system are inextricably linked: the microbiome can influence the immune system, while the immune system keeps the microbiome in check. Growing evidence suggests that, in some cases, shifts in the composition or number... Read More
Background One of the challenges facing multiple sclerosis researchers is discovering new ways to stop the process whereby the immune system attacks its own body tissues – termed autoimmunity – while leaving the general immune system intact to fight infection. A key priority in research is to develop... Read More
Background The human brain is a web of nerve cells that are in constant communication with one another. Even when the brain is unconscious, certain networks of nerve cells continue to fire away in a flurry of activity. These so-called resting-state networks are thought to keep the brain primed and alert, Read More
Background The need to close the gap between discovery research in the laboratory and clinical trials, in order to accelerate the delivery of safe and effective treatments to people with multiple sclerosis is an urgent priority. In 2014 the MS Society of Canada formed a collaboration with the Centre... Read More
Background A substantial body of evidence suggests that smoking tobacco increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and may even accelerate disease progression. On the other hand, nicotine, the ingredient in tobacco responsible for its addictive properties, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory... Read More
Background Cytotoxic T cells are a special kind of white blood cell that act as important warriors in the immune system’s host defense response against infection: they recognize and destroy target cells (such as those infected with a pathogenic virus) by programming them to die. In multiple sclerosis, Read More
Background The disease process underlying progressive MS remains a complex, largely unsolved area of research. People living with progressive MS often respond poorly to current MS immune-modifying therapies, suggesting that progressive MS is less an inflammatory disease and more a neurodegenerative... Read More
Background Microglia are specialized immune cells found only in the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS). When activated, these cells help coordinate the inflammatory response in a healthy system; stimulating the recruitment of other immune cells as well as clearing leftover cellular... Read More
Background Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when immune cells target and attack the central nervous system (CNS), causing inflammation and damage to both myelin (the protective covering around nerve fibers) and, eventually, nerve fibers as well. A leading agent in this inflammatory... Read More
Background The lush bacterial ecosystem in our intestines – referred to as the gut microbiome – has co-evolved with humans to give us the means to efficiently break down food and supply us with extracted energy and nutrients. Beyond its role in digestion, the gut microbiome has a profound impact on... Read More
Background Research into understanding and treating multiple sclerosis (MS) has largely been centered on a type of white blood cell known as the T cell or T lymphocyte. T cells are in charge of protecting the body against harmful infections, but in the case of MS T cells have been identified as important... Read More
Background Approximately 2 - 5 % of all cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed in children and adolescents. Although relatively uncommon, pediatric-onset MS differs from the adult form in that it is more aggressive; children have larger brain lesions and more frequent relapses than adults. It... Read More
Background Like many chronic disorders, the psychological and social impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) extends beyond the people living with the disease to encompass their families. For young children, a parent’s chronic disorder can be a source of stress and anxiety and, in some instances, can affect... Read More
Background Before the launch of the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network in 2004, pediatric multiple sclerosis was under-recognized and poorly understood. The prevalence and impact of MS in children and adolescents was unknown, and how their MS differs from MS in adults was yet to be determined. Read More
Background Nearly half of all individuals living with MS will experience a major bout of depression at some point during their lifetime and are three times more likely than people without MS to suffer from anxiety. Large population studies of non-MS individuals have consistently found higher rates of... Read More
Background Roughly 50% of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience MS-related pain. The pain is thought to arise from damage and inflammation to the central nervous system (CNS), leading to abnormal processing and/or transmission of pain-related messages from the body to the CNS. The... Read More
Background Many small molecules in the body are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of a disease. These molecules, which can include DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, can be used as signatures to quickly and accurately detect a disease and to measure its progress or its response to a particular... Read More
Background T-lymphocytes ( T-cells ) are a class of immune cell that fight infection. They are also one of the primary contributors to the development of MS. During an MS attack, myelin-reactive T-cells invade the central nervous system (CNS) where they orchestrate and direct an autoimmune response... Read More
Background Many different types of immune cells are thought to contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). While some have firmly established roles, others are still hotly debated. One of these mysterious types is a group of immune cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes ( T cells ). While present... Read More
Background People who are affected by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis often encounter significant challenges given the long-lasting nature of the diseases and disability that is associated with them. It is important for health care professionals and researchers to better understand how the... Read More
Background While we know that women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience fewer relapses during mid to late pregnancy or while breastfeeding, we are not sure why this occurs. One possibility lies with the hormone prolactin. Necessary for milk production, prolactin is at its highest levels... Read More
Background The degradation of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the central nervous system (CNS), an event referred to as demyelination , is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis. Remyelination is the body’s natural mechanism of repairing myelin, although this process is compromised during MS, Read More
Background One of defining characteristics of multiple sclerosis, particularly in the progressive phase, is the extensive damage that occurs to axons, or nerve fibres, that are found underneath the myelin sheath in the central nervous system . This axonal damage is part of a process called neurodegeneration, Read More
Background Standard medications that are available to treat MS work by influencing the activity of the immune system . The development of these medications is based on the observation that MS is predominantly driven by an autoimmune response, in which the body’s natural defenses start to attack healthy... Read More
Background Mounting evidence suggests that a number of biological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to one’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). One of the more widely accepted factors is sex; females are reported to be three times more likely to develop MS than males, and this... Read More
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have recently garnered the attention of multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers for their remarkable ability to reduce harmful inflammation and promote healing of injured tissue. However, it is not currently known whether MSC can benefit people affected by MS, an... Read More
Background Although most cases of MS begin during adulthood, some estimates suggest that 2 - 5 % of all cases are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 18, and MS has on rare occasions been diagnosed in children as young as two years old. MS that has been diagnosed in children and adolescents –... Read More
Background Disruption to the blood brain barrier (BBB) – a gateway that controls which cells and molecules enter the central nervous system – is a defining feature of the disease process underlying MS. However, the timing of BBB breakdown relative to other disease events, such as the formation of... Read More
Background An estimated 10 to 15% of people with MS suffer from the primary progressive MS (PPMS) subtype; unlike the more common relapsing-remitting (RRMS) subtype, those with PPMS experience steady progressive deterioration in neurological function without remissions (periods of recovery) and a poorer... Read More
Background Depression – a condition marked by persistently low mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities – is common among people living with MS, adding significant burden to their well-being. It is challenging to detect depression in individuals with MS, as a distinction must be made... Read More
Background: Primary progressive MS (PPMS) affects 10-20% of people with MS and differs in many ways from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), such as in age of onset, gender ratios, and physiological characteristics. PPMS is harder to study than RRMS due to the lower proportion of cases and thus information... Read More
Background: Brain cells transmit information through axons, the long fibre-like extensions of the cells wrapped in a substance called myelin . Myelin protects the brain cells while enhancing their capacity to communicate with each other. In MS, immune cells that normally act to protect our bodies cross... Read More
Background: The blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers (BBB and BSCB, respectively) are important features of the body that regulate the passage of cells into the brain or spinal cord from the bloodstream. It has been shown in mice that exhibit MS-like characteristics that when the physical integrity... Read More
Background: People with MS are living longer than in the past, likely attributable to a higher life expectancy in general and increasingly effective treatments for MS. Strategies for reducing disability and improving quality of life in later years have thus become of great interest, underlying the need... Read More
Background: The corpus callosum is a part of the brain consisting of thick nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres. In MS, the corpus callosum is known to become increasingly damaged as the disease progresses, consequently leading to reduced communication between the two hemispheres. Read More
Background: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is typically diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40, during the family building years. It is therefore important that information pertaining to how RRMS could affect pregnancy, and vice versa, is available. Several studies have investigated this relationship, Read More
Background: Little is known about the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the nonelderly MS population and health outcomes following admission. It has been previously shown that MS is linked to increased risks of infection and heart disease , which could increase the risk of being admitted... Read More
Background: In June 2010, the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada committed over $2.4 million to support seven new research projects that would gain further insight into the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS. One of these studies was led... Read More
Background: Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-60% of individuals with MS. Common signs of cognitive dysfunction include decreased memory, concentration, and attention, as well as difficulty putting thoughts into words. It has been shown through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that in individuals... Read More
Background: Approximately 80% of people with multiple sclerosis present with a relapsing-remitting course. In this type of MS, relapses, which can also be called ‘flare-ups’ or ‘attacks’, are separated by periods of recovery during which symptoms do not appear. Much work in the field of MS has been... Read More
Historically, people living with MS were advised against engaging in physical activity. This advice was based on the fact that exercise could result in a worsening of neurological symptoms including fatigue, mobility and vision problems. Current research has provided evidence to support that exercise... Read More
Background: Developing a new drug is a complex process involving an enormous amount of time, money and effort. Taking basic research findings about a disease like MS, and translating them into viable, safe, and effective therapies can take decades, and even after that there are still additional regulatory... Read More
Background: What do we know about repair in MS? The majority of therapies for MS specifically target components of the immune system that are believed to cause damage to tissues in the brain and spinal cord. Although these ‘immunomodulatory’ treatments are successful in reducing myelin injury, they... Read More
Background: Searching for clues about CCSVI and MS in the younger population Often considered a disease which affects adolescents, multiple sclerosis (MS) has been observed in a small percentage of children. Diagnosed before reaching their teenage years, children with MS experience symptoms of a relapsing-remitting... Read More
Background: Remyelination and MS Multiple sclerosis symptoms are the result of damage to myelin, a substance which wraps around and protects the wire-like structures known as axons which are found in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve. Myelin also serves as an insulator for axons, allowing them... Read More
Background: Immune cells and targets It is believed that multiple sclerosis disease is prompted by a series of immunological events. However, the mechanism by which immune cells enter the central nervous system (CNS) and cause tissue damage remains to be defined. A group of lymphocytes known as CD4... Read More
Background – Stem cell therapies in MS Stem cells are unique cells in the body which possess the capability to ‘self-renew’, or replicate themselves, as well as develop into specialized cells which perform specific functions. These characteristics have identified stem cells as a potential treatment... Read More
SUMMARY Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a way to track the progression of MS by using a new MRI method that measures iron levels in brain tissue. This finding will provide a better understanding of the impact MS has on the brain over time and will enable researchers to track... Read More
Summary A research team from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) provide further understanding of the method by which the blood brain barrier (BBB) works to avert attacks of the immune system on the brain. These findings which have been published in the prestigious journal Science... Read More
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation announced a $3.8 million grant to investigate the complex interplay between degeneration and inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant will fund a three year study led by Dr. Peter Stys... Read More
Summary Researchers from the University of Alberta have found that crocin, an active ingredient in the spice saffron, has a neuroprotective effect and may offer a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis. [André M. Deslauriers, Amir Afkhami-Goli, Amber M. Paul, Rakesh K. Bhat, Shaona Acharjee, Kristofor... Read More
Summary Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) and University of Toronto who lead the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network developed a standardized scoring tool to identify MRI predictors that can be used to diagnose MS in children with acute CNS demyelination. Read More
Summary University of Alberta researchers report that neurons are susceptible to neuronal damage through a novel mechanism mediated by Granzyme B (GrB) and its receptor mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR).Inhibiting this mechanism offers new approaches for future MS therapies. [Yohannes Haile, Katia... Read More
Summary A research team led by a University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health scientist has discovered a type of spinal cord cell that could function as a stem cell, with the ability to regenerate portions of the central nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis... Read More
Summary Researchers at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Hopital Notre-Dame in Montreal investigated the involvement of interleukin-15, a cytokine, on CD8 T cells or 'killer T cells' as it relates to the mechanism of MS. [Raphael Schneider, Alma Nazlie Mohebiany, Igal Ifergan, Diane... Read More
Summary Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that the genes responsible for producing neurosteroids, which allow brain cells to communicate and enable cell repair and re-growth, are suppressed in people with MS. Increasing the level of these neurosteroids in the central nervous system... Read More
Summary Results from a Phase III study involving a new oral disease-modifying therapy, teriflunomide, an agent that inhibits specific immune cells, was shown to reduce relapse rates, disability progression and MRI evidence of disease activity as compared with placebo. Further studies are ongoing to... Read More
Summary The Government of Canada announced investment of almost $6 million to support 10 studies on neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and neuromuscular conditions. The funding is part of the $15 million National Population Health... Read More
Summary UBC researchers and UBC MS clinic neurologists compared outcomes in people with benign MS (EDSS 3.0) and found that depression and mental health quality of life differed little between the two groups. However, people with longstanding 'benign' MS (EDSS ≤3 for 25+ years) had less fatigue, better... Read More
Summary UBC researchers, Dr. Helen Tremlett and Mia van der Kop reported findings from a retrospective cohort study she conducted using data from the British Columbia MS Clinics’ database and the British Columbia Perinatal Database Registry to determine if there was a difference in pregnancy related... Read More
Summary On March 9, 2011, Health Canada approved Gilenya® (fingolimod) capsules, the first oral disease-modifying therapy developed for relapsing-remitting MS. Gilenya (prounounced Jil-EN-ee-ah) has been approved for use in people who have tried one or more MS therapies, but are unresponsive or intolerant... Read More
Summary Six-month progress reports from seven multi-disciplinary teams investigating CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) in MS indicate that they have established rigorous protocols, are successfully recruiting participants, and are on-track to evaluate and deliver important data when... Read More
September 28, 2012 – Halifax – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada welcomes the federal government’s announcement that the Phase I/II clinical trial for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has received the necessary medical and ethical approvals required to proceed. The national... Read More
Summary A study of over 5,000 people with MS , researchers pinpointed motor symptoms at onset (such as muscle stiffness known as spasticity) and male gender as factors associated with a faster progression from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary-progressive Researchers were funded by the National MS... Read More
Toronto, Ontario - September 16, 2010 – The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada board of directors unanimously approved a motion to reserve $1 million for a chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and MS pan-Canadian therapeutic clinical trial. The funding will be set aside so that an immediate... Read More
Summary Although the interaction between comorbidities and chronic diseases is strong, the effect of comorbidities receives little attention in many chronic diseases. In multiple sclerosis (MS), an increasing amount of evidence suggests that physical and mental comorbidities, and adverse health factors... Read More
Summary Clinical investigation of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) has been ongoing for over a decade. While several phase II studies have been finalized or are in progress, no definitive prospective randomized studies comparing HSCT versus... Read More
James J. Marriott* and Paul W. Q'Connor Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials, 2010, 5, 179-188. Details Disease modifying therapy (DMT) first became available for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) fifteen years ago with the development of the moderately effective injectable agents interferon... Read More
Summary Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are being considered for clinical trials of multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors studied the effect of these stem cells in a specific subgroup of immune system cells. They found that soluble products from hMSCs inhibited the responses of some immune cells... Read More
Summary The onset of secondary progression is a pivotal event in the course of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) experience continuous worsening of symptoms independent of the occurrence of relapses. Possible risk factors associated with... Read More
Summary Executive Functions (EF) include a range of superordinate abilities that control performance across many tasks allowing for cognitive efficiency and mental flexibility. Although EFs are commonly affected in MS, little is known about the EF components that are most affected, particularly in pediatric-onset... Read More
Summary FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a new therapy that reduces disease activity by decreasing numbers of a specific immune system cell. The authors investigated patients who discontinued therapy during clinical investigation and they found that the reconstitution of this specific cell-type after prolonged... Read More
Summary Low vitamin D status has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence and risk, but the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in established MS has not been explored. Canadian researchers assess the tolerability of high-dose oral vitamin D and its impact on biochemical, immunologic, Read More
Summary Mitoxantrone is used for aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS), but concerns about safety, including cardiotoxicity and other laboratory measures, prevail. Reseachers sought to evaluate the incidence and potential predictors of adverse events associated with mitoxantrone at the MS Clinic, University... Read More
Summary Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver examine changes in cervical cord volume over time. Laule C, Vavasour IM, Zhao Y, Traboulsee AL, Oger J, Vavasour JD, Mackay AL, Li DK. Mult Scler. 2010 Jun;16(6):670-7. Details Spinal cord involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) is... Read More
Summary In this review, researchers from the University of British Columbia highlight recent advances in MS natural history over the last 5 years, with a focus on long-term population-based cohorts and factors associated with disease progression. Tremlett H, Zhao Y, Rieckmann P, Hutchinson M. Neurology. Read More
Summary The relationship of relapses to long-term disability in MS is uncertain. Using the natural history cohort from the London Ontario MS Clinic, the authors investigated the relationship between relapses and disability progression. They found that higher early relapse frequencies and shorter first... Read More
Summary University of Toronto investigators report on the utilization of disease modifying drugs in Canada. Rotstein DL, Mamdani M, O'Connor PW. Can J Neurol Sci. 2010 May;37(3):383-8. Details The course of multiple sclerosis may be slowed by use of the disease modifying drugs (DMDs): subcutaneous or... Read More
Expedited international review facilitates July 1 launch of CCSVI research project funding Toronto , Ontario - June 11, 2010 - Over $2.4 million has been committed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the National MS Society (USA) to support seven new research projects focusing on chronic... Read More
Canadian researchers investigate common medication as alternative MS treatment Calgary, October 25, 2007 – A common acne medication that has been available for over 30 years has the potential to delay the progress of multiple sclerosis and if proven effective, will offer an inexpensive option for the... Read More
Summary The Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation is funding a multi-centre project to determine definitively whether transplanting bone marrow stem cells in people with MS can stop the disease. Led by Dr. Mark Freedman (MS neurologist) and Dr. Harold Atkins (bone marrow transplant physician), Read More
Summary The MS Scientific Research Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada announced funding May 4, 2004 of a $4.3 million, multi-centre study of children who have had an initial attack (clinically isolated syndrome or CIS). The five-year study will follow the children to find out which... Read More