Redefining Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis:
As an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), multiple sclerosis accounts for a dysfunction of the immune system that is supposed to fight viruses and bacteria. Instead, the immune system attacks the myelin that protects the nerve fibers and plays a significant role in transmitting of nerve impulses from the brain to the rest of the body.
The first symptoms depend mainly on the first lesions in the brain or the spinal cord. From the very beginning of the disease, we can observe these kinds of events: motor disorders, loss of balance, visual or, urinary disorders or tingling.
Moreover, the evolution of this disease is very unpredictable, and it is complicated to prevent.
Progress on multiple sclerosis
There are many issues surrounding multiple sclerosis, however; in recent years, new treatments have been found to slow this disease.
It should be noted that with time and without treatment, MS is bound to evolve and permanently lead to numerous handicaps. It can lead to a total loss of autonomy or a significant decrease in life expectancy, varying from 5 to 10 years. In order to slow down the disease, active research has been realized to find treatments that can prevent and stall the effects. In addition, many health professionals have not remained passive in this situation. They have become aware of the importance of accompanying patients in their daily lives as well as on a social level.
Preventing Disease
The first symptoms of the disease are usually noticed between the ages of 20 and 40, and they manifest themselves in various ways. Moreover, the symptoms are so varied that the diagnosis can be complex to establish. It is therefore important to consult specialists as soon as possible, especially if abnormal neurological symptoms are noted.
Treatments and clinical trials
As previously mentioned, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are three types of treatment to make the disease less progressive:
Treatments that act on the duration and evolution of the disease.
Treatments that reduce the daily discomfort of the disease.
Treatments that only work on the immune system.
Today, the fact that there is no treatment to stop the disease leads to clinical trials.
The specific of clinical trials
A clinical trial evaluates safety and efficacy. The clinical trial is, therefore, an integral part of the search for a medication to find a solution to multiple sclerosis.
Clinical trials have four phases that vary according to the objectives and the number of participants. It should be noted that medical progress is largely based on clinical trials.
Vision loss - A trigger
Loss of vision is one of the first symptoms seen in multiple sclerosis. This symptom occurs when the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, is inflamed, called optic neuritis.
This eye inflammation will occur at least once in half of all people with multiple sclerosis. Symptoms often appear suddenly and can be seen in different ways:
Blurred vision
Deterioration of vision
Pain when the eye moves
In addition to MS, inflammation of the optic nerve can occur in the context of other diseases, including infections or immune diseases. Most people who have a single episode of optic neuritis eventually regain their vision without treatment. Sometimes steroid medications can speed up the recovery of sight after optic neuritis.
Clinical trials play a major role in understanding MS and its symptom, vision loss.
Genge Partners is recruiting for a study to develop and validate a sensitive and non-invasive ophthalmic monitoring software application. The objective of this study is to collect data following cognitive tests on participants. They are designed to assess several functions known to be affected by MS. Each of the data collected in this study will be used to develop a software application designed to track the progressive and evolving component of multiple sclerosis as well as its changes and cognitive evolutions.
Would you like to take part in our study ?