Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the nervous system, affecting about 1 million people worldwide. Even though it has been known for over a hundred years, no cause or cure has yet been discovered-but now there is hope. New therapies have been shown to slow the disease progress in some patients, and the pace of discoveries about the cellular machinery of the brain and spinal cord has accelerated. This book presents a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis today, as researchers seek to understand its processes, develop therapies that will slow or halt the disease and perhaps repair damage, offer relief for specific symptoms, and improve the abilities of MS patients to function in their daily lives. The panel reviews existing knowledge and identifies key research questions, focusing on: Research strategies that have the greatest potential to understand the biological mechanisms of recovery and to translate findings into specific strategies for therapy. How people adapt to MS and the research needed to improve the lives of people with MS. Management of disease symptoms (cognitive impairment, depression, spasticity, vision problems, and others). The committee also discusses ways to build and financially support the MS research enterprise, including a look at challenges inherent in designing clinical trials. This book will be important to MS researchers, research funders, health care advocates for MS research and treatment, and interested patients and their families.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of disability in young adults, carrying a considerable individual and societal economic burden. The development of disease-modifying therapies and updates to diagnostic criteria are leading us into a new era for MS management, both in the earliest disease phases and progressive MS. In this completely revised/fully updated edition of Fast Facts: Multiple Sclerosis, we present the most recent evidence on disease pathogenesis and all clinical aspects of the condition, as well as the latest on disease-modifying therapies and other potential treatments. Given the need for multidisciplinary management of MS, we have written this resource for the benefit of all health professionals involved in MS care. Table of Contents: • Epidemiology and genetics • Pathology • The clinical picture • Treatment of relapses and symptoms • Disease-modifying treatment • Emerging therapies • Special MS populations • Lifestyle considerations and the multidisciplinary team • Advanced MS

Multiple Sclerosis: A Mechanistic View provides a unique view of the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders. As the only book on the market to focus on the mechanisms of MS rather than focusing on the clinical features and treatment of the disease, it describes the role of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of MS, the role of specific cells in the pathophysiology of the disease, and the pathophysiology of inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders related to MS. The book provides discussion of neurodegeneration and neuroregeneration, two critical emerging areas of research, as well as detailed discussion of the mechanisms of action of the approved and investigational drugs for treatment of MS and the emerging role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRI) in investigations into MS. It is the only book on the market to offer comprehensive coverage of the known mechanisms of MS and related diseases, and contains contributions from physicians and researchers who are worldwide experts in the field of study. Focuses on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis and the mechanisms of action in agents for the treatment of MS Discusses the roles of neurodegeneration and neuroregeneration in MS and related diseases Authored and edited by international leaders in the field of MS research

Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease won a 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Silver Medal! The basic facts about multiple sclerosis are well known: it is the most common neurologic disease of young adults, usually beginning with episodic attacks of neurologic symptoms, then entering a progressive phase some years later. Its onset has an average age of 30, and occurs in about 1 in 500 individuals of European ancestry living primarily in temperate climates. There appears to be a complex interaction between a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger that initiates the disease. But these facts do not convey the impact of the disease on the people whose lives it affects. In this elegantly written and comprehensive history, we meet individuals who suffered with MS in the centuries before the disease had a name, including blessed Lidwina of Holland, who took joy from her misery, believing that she was sent to accept suffering for the sins of others; Augustus d'Est, grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria, whose case shows how someone with access to the best of medical care of the age was understood and managed; and Heinrich Heine, the great German poet, who also had access to all medical services that were available, but who progressed into his mattress grave in two decades, aware of the loss of physical ability while still able to compose great poetry to the end. From these early cases the author demonstrates how progress in diagnosing and managing multiple sclerosis has paralleled the development of medical science, from the early developments in modern studies of anatomy and pathology, to the framing of the disease in the nineteenth century, and eventually to modern diagnosis and treatment. From beginning to end, Dr. Murray takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery, in the process showing how the evolution of our understanding of multiple sclerosis has been part of the greater history of medical knowledge.

Since the last edition of this book, 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA) has been proposed as a new treatment target, early data on the first pharmacological treatments for progressive MS have emerged, and the first remyelination trial has shown positive effects on nerve repair. It is with this sense of optimism that the authors of 'Fast Facts: Multiple Sclerosis' have detailed the latest developments for use in clinical practice by all members of the multidisciplinary team, including: • a concise overview of investigations and modern diagnostic criteria • a holistic approach to all signs and symptoms, and proactive relapse management • the latest disease-modifying drugs, including when to treat, choice of drug and risk versus benefit. With case histories that will help to guide treatment decisions, discussion of the special considerations for MS during pregnancy, and in children and the elderly, and a detailed outline of emerging therapies, this book will benefit all healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with this complex disease.

Multiple Sclerosis can now be healed and this book shows you how. Though MS is widely believed to be incurable, Boroch's breakthrough treatment protocol can dramatically restore patients to health. This landmark book describes her own tumultuous journey with MS: • Her quest for a cure • Case histories of those who have triumphed over MS • The real causes of MS • How to develop a personal treatment plan • Everything you need to bring about recovery, including a detailed and effective self-help treatment protocol • Delicious recipes and recommended foods, with two weeks of sample menus • A five-week nutritional makeover, recommended supplements and a daily sample supplement schedule • A list of recommended products • User-friendly charts and resources