MS research update - 16 April 2010
- Family history of MS linked to earlier onset in primary progressive MS
- Fatigue linked to damage in specific regions of the brain
Family history of MS linked to earlier onset in primary progressive MS
A study based on the records of 441 people with primary progressive MS suggests that there is a link between a family history of MS and an earlier age of MS onset. The average age of primary progressive MS onset for people with a family history of MS was 37.6 years while for people with no family history of MS it was 42.7 years. There were no significant differences between males and females and further analysis suggested that the difference was unlikely to be due to greater suspicion - and therefore earlier detection - of MS in family cases. The authors of the study conclude that these findings suggest that hereditary factors may influence the course of the condition in primary progressive MS.
Koch M, Zhao Y, Yee I, et al.
Disease onset in familial and sporadic primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis 2010 [Epub ahead of print]
Medline abstract
Fatigue linked to damage in specific regions of the brain
Fatigue is one of the commonest symptoms experienced by people with MS and can be difficult to manage. The causes of fatigue in MS are thought to be due to a combination of factors - partly caused by MS itself (primary fatigue) and partly by other factors (secondary fatigue) such as medications or disrupted sleeping patterns. This study sought to investigate the primary causes of fatigue in MS and determine whether there is any link between the damage that occurs in particular regions of the brain and levels of fatigue individuals experience.
24 people with MS were assessed for levels of fatigue, number of brain lesions, and extent of tissue loss in different regions of the brain. These assessments were also carried out in 24 healthy volunteers for comparison. For people with MS, the results revealed a strong link between tissue loss in one specific region of the brain - the parietal lobe - and greater levels of fatigue.
Pellicano C, Gallo A, Li X, et al.
Relationship of cortical atrophy to fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis
Archives of Neurology 2010; 67(4):447-453.
Medline abstract