A Bone Marrow Reset for MS

By Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog An international trial was recently published revealing the outcomes for 145 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who received blood stem cell transplantation. Excitingly, these stem cell transplants were associated with substantial improvements in neurological symptoms and other clinical outcomes of MS. While these are preliminary findings they are nonetheless exciting. MS is a disease in which a person's own immune system attacks the myelin sheath that covers nerves. This reduces the ability of nerves in your brain to efficiently communicate with your muscles. Myelin is a wrapping made of lipids or fats and proteins that serve to insulate and protect nerves much like the plastic covering of electrical wires. Myelin also serves to greatly increase the speed by which nerves signals are transmitted. Myelin is present in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. In MS, only the myelin in the CNS is affected. The damage in MS can also lead to damage of the nerves, eventually leading to scarring and issues with nerve conduction. If this process is not stopped it can lead to permanent neurodegeneration. Symptoms of MS vary for each individual and over time. Symptoms can include fatigue, numbness or tingling, weakness, dizziness, pain, difficulties walking, spasticity, vision and bladder problems among many others. These primary symptoms can advance to more severe secondary and tertiary s...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news