Has the Key to Unlocking Better MS Treatments Been Found?

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted April 12, 2024

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Imagine waking up one morning and feeling a strange tingling in your fingers.

You brush it off, thinking it’s just a pinched nerve. But then, your vision starts to blur, and your balance is thrown off. Suddenly, you’re faced with a terrifying reality: you have multiple sclerosis (MS).

For the nearly 3 million people worldwide living with MS, this scenario is all too familiar. The uncertainty, the fear, the endless questions—it’s a gut-wrenching journey that no one should have to face alone.

But what if I told you that a team of brilliant researchers in Ireland has made a groundbreaking discovery that could change the game for MS patients everywhere?

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin developed a unique blood test that measures the immune response to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), the leading risk factor for developing MS.

This test could improve our understanding of the disease and pave the way for better, more targeted treatments.

The team found that the immune response to a specific part of the EBV, called EBNA-1, is higher in people with MS compared to those without the condition. This is significant because EBNA-1 can mimic the myelin coating of nerves, which is the main target of the immune system in MS.

But here’s where it gets really interesting.

The researchers also discovered that currently approved MS medications that target the immune system, but not the virus itself, can impact this cellular response to EBNA-1. In fact, people taking B cell-depleting medications had an immune response to EBNA-1 that was similar to that of healthy individuals.

This finding supports the idea that a more selective approach to reducing EBV, rather than wiping out all B cells, could be a game-changer in MS treatment. B cells play a crucial role in fighting infection, so a targeted approach could mean fewer unwanted side effects.

Even more exciting is that this blood test was developed using equipment already used in hospital laboratories daily. This means the test could be easily scaled up and implemented in clinical trials without new equipment or personnel!

So, what does this mean for the future of MS treatment?

This research is a boon for the MS research community in the short term. The test’s scalability and potential to be replicated could lead to further validation and a deeper understanding of the role of EBV in MS.

In addition, this test could be a valuable tool for researchers conducting clinical trials on MS treatments. They could directly measure the immune response to potential antiviral therapies rather than relying solely on MS outcome measures.

And in the long run, this research brings hope to the millions of people living with MS. New treatments tested in clinical trials using this blood test could potentially reduce the burden of this debilitating disease.

And another thing…

Here’s what else we’ve covered this week in Living Well Daily…

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Mailbag! Neuropathy Pain? Ease Tingling in Hands and Feet

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8 Red Flags There’s a Heart Attack in Your Future

Discover eight under-the-radar red flags that could indicate a deadly heart attack in your future. Subtle signs can surface up to a month before.

P.S. This “food reboot” could HALT multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Source:

Lara Dungan, PhD, et al., “Disease-Modifying Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis Affect Measures of Cellular Immune Responses to EBNA-1 Peptides,” Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, May 2024 issue, 11 (3), doi .org /10.1212 /NXI.0000000000200217

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND