October 16, 2026

Blood levels of key protein may help predict MS progression

Blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a marker of nerve damage, may help predict the risk of future disease activity and progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are starting treatment, a study found. However, NfL levels at treatment initiation did not independently predict long-term disease progression after accounting for MRI findings and […]

October 15, 2026

Eye scans link retinal thinning to slower cognitive processing in MS

Thinning of a layer of nerve cells in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, was associated with slower information processing in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), independent of physical disability, a study found. Researchers concluded that the findings support retinal imaging as a potential tool for monitoring neurodegeneration in MS. […]

October 15, 2026

In a life with multiple sclerosis, you have to know when ‘it is time’

I have been known to occasionally use an experience from my time in U.S. Army special operations forces to illustrate or make a point in this column. Since I “write” with voice-to-text, I can honestly say that I had trouble writing that with a straight face. The right word to use would probably be “frequently,” […]

October 15, 2026

More antibody bands in spinal fluid tied to broader MRI lesions in MS

In people newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), a higher number of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) — bands of antibodies found in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord — may reflect more widespread lesions on MRI scans and poorer verbal learning and memory, a study found. “While OCB count should not be considered […]

October 14, 2026