World MS Day: accessible multiple sclerosis research
Currently, more than 2.9 million people are estimated to be living with multiple sclerosis (MS) worldwide, and that number appears to be rising. World MS Day takes place on 30 May every year, and is an opportunity to raise awareness, share resources and help campaign for change.
At Neuro Central, we have compiled a list of plain language summaries relating to MS that have been published in our partner journal Neurodegenerative Disease Management. These articles present research in a way that is accessible and understandable to non-specialist audiences, including those affected by MS, their caregivers, healthcare professionals and decision makers.
Measuring fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis – which questionnaire should be used?
This summary explains the results of a recent study that compared different questionnaires used by doctors to assess levels of fatigue in individuals with MS. Fatigue is a common symptom of MS and is often a significant issue for many individuals with the condition, making it crucial for doctors to accurately measure it. Currently, people with MS fill out questionnaires to help their care team understand how fatigue impacts their daily lives.
Many questionnaires are used to measure fatigue in people with MS. The aim of the study was to determine which questionnaire is most suitable for doctors to measure fatigue in people with MS in the future.
What clinical studies can tell us about the safety of evobrutinib – a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis
This summary explains the findings of a recent study that combined the results of over 1000 people across three clinical studies to assess the safety of evobrutinib. Evobrutinib is an oral medication being researched as a potential treatment for MS, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The three Phase II clinical trials involved over 1000 people who were administered evobrutinib to determine the appropriate dosage, safety profile and efficacy for treating specific medical conditions.
The results indicated that evobrutinib was well tolerated by the participants. However, the beneficial treatment effect of evobrutinib for people with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus was not deemed significant enough to continue further investigation for these conditions. Early results in people with MS showed a potential benefit, and additional studies are currently underway.
Assessing the long-term effectiveness of cladribine tablets in people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis: the CLASSIC-MS study
Previous studies have shown that people living with MS treated with cladribine tablets have fewer relapses and delayed disability progression. This summary outlines the results from the CLASSIC-MS study, which looked at the long-term effectiveness of treatment with cladribine tablets in people living with MS who had taken part in the original CLARITY and CLARITY Extension clinical studies.
The results were positive, showing that people treated with cladribine tablets maintained their mobility for longer and experienced other positive effects long after their treatment ended, including being less likely to need further treatment for their MS.
Family planning in people with multiple sclerosis
People with MS may have concerns about pregnancy and fertility. To understand more about these concerns, 332 people with MS in the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain took a survey with questions about how they made family planning decisions. This summary explains the results of that study, finding that people with MS were less likely to have children than people without MS. They also found that over half of people with MS said that the condition impacted their family planning decisions in some way.
