Is a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis on the Horizon?

Throughout the world, about 2.5 million people are affected by multiple sclerosis, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. In the United States alone, there are 350,000 to 500,000 people living with this disease. I am one of these people. MS is unpredictable and things may be great one day and sheer terror the next. There are treatments, but they are not always effective. Scientists are constantly searching for a cure for this progressive neurological autoimmune disease. The question is, is there a cure for multiple sclerosis on the horizon?

Progress Past and Present

Great strides have been made in how multiple sclerosis is managed. Many patients are able to live relatively normal lives. Many women are able to have children, careers, get degrees and go about their days rather normal. Many men are able to help conceive children, have careers, get degrees and go about their days rather normal. However, as an MS patient I can tell you that the treatments are not exactly pleasant and there is always the fear of a relapse. Then, there are different types of MS and some are more progressive and disabling than others. I have symptoms that interfere with my days, everyday, but my disease is stable at this time. This is thanks to the medical advancements made in the last 20 years. 20 years ago, there were no medications available to patients. Now, we have six different drugs that we can work with our doctors to try. There are also several others currently in the clinical trial phase.

What Can Today's Drugs Do?

Today's drug are capable of modifying the disease, but they cannot cure it. The medication works to reduce how many relapses we experience and for many patients, the medication does work.

The Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers have found two genes associated with multiple sclerosis. Neurologists and researchers have long believed that when a person develops this disease it is due to a combination of factors, including exposure to lifestyle elements and environmental elements and genetic predisposition that trigger this disease. However, at this time, the exact cause of MS remains unknown.

Stem Cell Research

While highly controversial, stem cell transplants show promise as a possible cure for multiple sclerosis. In animal studies, this technique was able to replace lost myelin. Myelin is what is destroyed by the disease process of MS and this loss results in the symptoms of this disease.

Resources

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation: Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?