May 8, 2024

Hey - It's starting to heat up here in Virginia. How about where you are? Extra water consumption, cooling vests, and misting fans are about to be my daily habits again. I would LOVE to hear how you approach the heat of summer. Just hit reply and let me know what you do to stay cool and keep MS quiet!Let's take a gander at what's been going on in MS lately:1.  Did you have a lumbar puncture when you were pursuing a diagnosis? No fun - but, they were looking at oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce myelin in the brain and spinal cord, for abnormalities that are typical in MS. These oligodendrocytes (say that 3 times fast!)  can normally restore damaged myelin - but not when MS is present. Alexander Gow, PhD, a professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, has been awarded a grant to study how stressed oligodendrocytes could be at the origin of MS. That's something to be excited about! It's really interesting stuff. Read all about it right here: Wayne State professor wins grant to study oligodendrocytes in MS2.  As I'm fighting vertigo today, I came across what sounds like punishment but what may well help MS'ers dealing with balance and walking issues: "Strapped in with safety harnesses, participants are prompted to exercise at a higher intensity than most MS therapies typically offer, all while the treadmill at their feet moves unexpectedly in different directions, literally pulling the rug out from under them."  😳  I'd be going ass over tea kettle today! I do love some out-of-the-box thinking though. Keep those innovations coming!! A $3.3 million Marquette project combines cardio and balance training to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis  3.  This is sooooo interesting to me: "among immigrants to Canada, the risk of MS is higher for those who have spent a greater portion of their life in Canada, a new study reports." Read that again. Ok - thoughts? Why yes, I do have a few. Namely - SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE or lack thereof. Did you know that the risk of pediatric MS is proportional to UVB light exposure? The risk is reduced in half for children who spend more than 30 minutes per day outdoors each weekend and reduced by 80% for children who spend more than an hour outdoors. (Sebastian et al, 2022) In adults, MS risk and outcomes are correlated to the UVB exposure they experienced from ages 6 to 18.  The lack of UVB exposure increases prevalence, earlier age of onset, and disease severity. 😳 🌞  Immigrants to Canada see MS risk rising with time in country: Study4.  IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) and MS have long been thought to be linked in some way, but the nature of the exact connection remains elusive. Although studies have found that people with one of these conditions are at a higher risk than the general population of having the other as well, it’s relatively rare for a person to be diagnosed with both. But the question remains: Is There a Link Between IBD and MS?5.  "Up your nose with a rubber hose." (I'm showing my age). The first person who hits reply to this email and correctly identifies (don't Google it!) where that quote comes from will win something.Probably just bragging rights but I'll at least kick off the bragging by posting what a smarticle you are in next week's 6-Pack!  That quote came to mind when I read this next post: Promising Nasal Administration Treatment for Non-Active Secondary Progressive MS 6.  Back to that rising heat and our need to find ways to stay cool. Well - here's one - and you can even L👀K cool too:  

Get YOUR FUMS water bottle HERE

That's all folks. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way. Otherwise, just keep saying FUMS!! 🧡Cheers -- KathyKathy Reagan YoungFounderFUMSP.S. Are you going to the CMSC (Consortium for Multiple Sclerosis Centers) conference in Nashville at the end of this month??  I'd LOVE to know who is going to be there. We may have a special surprise for you. Just hit reply to this email and let me know. 😉

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