Science Discovers Key To Fixing MS

Science gets a gold star today.  A big step forward in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) was taken when British researchers discovered a key molecular component to repairing the damage caused by this nasty, nasty disease.

MS is a condition in which the insulating sheath of the nerves, called myelin, is worn away slowly over time.  It’s an autoimmune condition, which means the body’s own defenses are causing all of the damage… sort of like biological friendly fire.  The immune system, for reasons unknown, becomes confused and begins attacking and destroying the body’s own myelin.

Why is that a big deal?  Well, myelin works like the insulation on an electrical cord.  Ever have a vaccum cleaner that was so old and abused that the cord had little holes worn through to the actual metal, putting you in constant danger of electrocution or house fire (or was that just mine?)?

The same thing happens with MS.  That insulating myelin allows for maximum efficiency when it comes to transmitting electrical (neurological) impulses, so when little holes begin wearing through here and there, you get slower transmission of nervous system signals and short-circuiting type problems.

Needless to say, a short-circuiting, sparking, slow nervous system is kind of a bad thing.

Most therapies up until know have tried to limit damage and slow the progression of the disease (with mixed results), but for the first time, some options are opening up for actually repairing the little holes in the insulation… sort of like wrapping electrical tape around that old vaccum cleaner’s cord (not that I ever needed to do that, of course).

Specifically, the British researchers found that if they stimulated a certain molecule in rats (that goes by the somewhat awesome name of “RXR- gamma“), the rats would begin repairing their own myelin sheaths.

This is really impressive and revolutionary stuff.  Up until now, getting a diagnosis of MS was a bleak, bleak situation.  And make no mistake, it’s still a huge problem, but at least now there’s some hope of an eventual solution that provides real, lasting relief to a notoriously difficult to treat condition.

Researchers hope that these new findings will lead to human clinical trials within five years and widely available treatment within fifteen years.

Nicely done, Science.

Stay healthy!