Although there is not currently a cure for multiple sclerosis, many scientists still actively look for a possible way of directly treating it within the nervous system. Specifically, researchers hope to explore the possible benefits of treating the myelin that is damaged by the immune system of a person with MS. This is a relatively new development, with trials occurring as recently as this year, and scientists are hopeful to see what kind of new knowledge or understanding of MS may come from it.
One of the most recent trials that have occurred is in Cambridge, England, where a group of fifty people takes two medications (metformin and clemastine) in order to see the effects and potential slowing of MS. Clemastine and metformin, two drugs used to treat other diseases, were chosen because of their proven ability to repair oligodendrocytes, which are cells that produce myelin. Being led by University of Cambridge Professor Alasdair Coles, the trial is an experimental step toward understanding what will most effectively treat the symptoms that come with multiple sclerosis.
This kind of repairing, which mainly addresses the process of remyelination and demyelination, has had some setbacks in the past. Two years ago, similar trials were done to find the effects of a drug primarily used for cancer treatment called bexarotene. However, it eventually ceased after discovering the severe side effects of the cancer medication. Despite these issues, researchers have remained hopeful in experimenting with various drugs to bring about myelin repair, both with human subjects and mice. Something particularly notable is that scientists maintain a holistic mindset when treating multiple sclerosis. This includes using therapies that do not rely on drugs to help remyelination and addressing the psychological symptoms of MS along with the physiological effects that it can have.
The ongoing research regarding myelin repair indicates the type of innovation that will eventually allow people with MS to slow the disease’s course more effectively. With time, the priority of scientists is to find a working treatment that induces as few side effects as possible, and myelin repair appears to be the therapy that they are looking for. In various countries, such as the US, Switzerland, and England, people will continue research to find the most effective ways to slow down the progression of multiple sclerosis.
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