Showing recent highlights
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that a procedure called a stem cell transplant — where a person's own stem cells are used to essentially 'reset' their immune system — led to lower levels of inflammation markers and signs of nerve damage in the blood and spinal fluid of people with severe multiple sclerosis, and these changes lasted for several years. One marker called neurofilament light chain (NfL), which acts like a signal that nerves may be getting damaged, dropped in both the blood and spinal fluid after the procedure. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that Adderall XR (a stimulant medication sometimes used for attention problems) did not significantly improve processing speed — how quickly the brain takes in and uses information — in people with multiple sclerosis over 12 weeks, even though some self-reported measures of mental fatigue and daily functioning showed modest improvement. This matters because cognitive problems, including slowed thinking, are very common in MS and there are currently no approved treatments for them. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that lacosamide (brand name Vimpat), a medication already used for seizures, may also help reduce chronic pain in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the study, people who took lacosamide reported meaningfully less pain and a better quality of life compared to those who took a placebo — a dummy pill with no active ingredient — and 90% of lacosamide users felt their condition had improved after three months. This appears to be a new potential option for MS-related pain, though no serious side effects were reported during the study.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether lacosamide might help reduce the patient's MS-related nerve pain, since a recent study found it worked better than a placebo for people with multiple sclerosis.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a short series of eight talk therapy sessions — focused on helping people process and express emotions — may reduce fatigue and pain while improving overall quality of life in women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a form of MS where symptoms flare up and then partially recover. The improvements held up even a month after the sessions ended, which is encouraging. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that fertility treatments — such as IVF and other assisted reproduction procedures — do not appear to meaningfully raise the risk of MS relapses (sudden worsening of symptoms) in women who already have multiple sclerosis, which challenges older studies that raised concern about this. In fact, women who successfully became pregnant after these treatments had significantly fewer relapses during pregnancy. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a class of MS medications called anti-CD20 therapies — which work by reducing certain immune cells thought to drive MS attacks — cut the rate of relapses roughly in half compared to placebo or other treatments, across 11 studies involving nearly 6,000 people with relapsing MS. A relapse is when MS symptoms suddenly flare up or get worse, so cutting that risk in half could be meaningful for people managing this condition day to day. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that rituximab, a lower-cost medication used off-label for relapsing multiple sclerosis, appeared to work about as well as ocrelizumab — a newer, brand-name MS drug — at reducing new brain lesions seen on MRI scans over a two-year period. However, some real-world data suggested people on rituximab may have had slightly more relapses (flare-ups of MS symptoms), though that finding wasn't considered reliable enough to draw firm conclusions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should know about the differences in effectiveness and safety between rituximab and ocrelizumab for treating their multiple sclerosis, since both drugs work the same way but rituximab costs less.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a procedure called a stem cell transplant — where a person's own immune system is essentially 'reset' using their own stem cells — may work better than a powerful MS drug called alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) at reducing relapses and improving physical disability scores in people with very active multiple sclerosis. The stem cell approach also appeared more likely to achieve a state where doctors see no signs of disease activity at all. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis stuck with a 16-week online physical activity program at a remarkably high rate — about 95% overall — which is encouraging because getting people to follow through with lifestyle programs is often a real challenge. Researchers also found that those who stayed engaged with their one-on-one coaching sessions tended to show the most improvement in how physically active they became, suggesting that personal support may be a key ingredient. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation programs — where people use immersive technology to do guided movement exercises — may help people with multiple sclerosis walk faster, move more safely, keep their balance better, and feel an improved sense of overall wellbeing. The analysis looked at 19 studies involving nearly 800 people, making it one of the most thorough looks at this topic so far. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that African-Americans living with multiple sclerosis (MS) — a condition where the immune system attacks the nervous system, often affecting movement — saw meaningful improvements in their ability to walk after taking part in either a remotely-delivered, culturally-tailored exercise program or a stretching and flexibility program over four months. Both approaches led to real, lasting gains in walking ability, which is one of the most common and frustrating challenges for people with MS. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that two drug-free techniques — neurofeedback (where people learn to influence their own brainwave activity using real-time feedback) and biofeedback (where people use body signals like muscle tension or balance to improve control over physical functions) — showed some promising results for people with multiple sclerosis, including improvements in mood, thinking, walking, and balance. However, the studies reviewed were small and varied widely in how they were conducted, making it hard to draw firm conclusions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that exercise may shift the balance of certain chemicals in the blood toward patterns that could help protect the brain and nervous system in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, a single session of strength-focused exercise appeared to boost a protective chemical pattern right away, while longer-term endurance exercise — spread over several months — seemed to reduce a potentially harmful one. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that task-oriented training — a type of physical therapy where people practice real-life activities like walking or using their hands — may help people with multiple sclerosis move more easily, feel less fatigued, and build better walking stamina. The training sessions in the studies reviewed lasted about 55 minutes and ran for roughly 10 weeks. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a type of specialized physical therapy called vestibular therapy — which uses targeted exercises to improve balance and reduce dizziness — may meaningfully help people with multiple sclerosis who struggle with these symptoms. Balance problems and dizziness are very common in MS, and this review combined results from 16 studies to show that this therapy was more effective than standard care at reducing how much dizziness interferes with daily life. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that a relaxation technique called progressive muscle relaxation — where a person slowly tenses and then releases different muscle groups one at a time, working through the body — helped reduce fatigue and pain in people with multiple sclerosis (MS, a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves). The analysis looked at 10 studies involving 671 people with MS and found meaningful improvements in both fatigue and pain, as well as better overall well-being. The technique was used as an add-on approach alongside other care, not as a replacement for it.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that smartphones and wearables — like fitness trackers — can quietly track everyday movements and behaviors, such as how someone types or walks, to detect subtle changes in health for people with multiple sclerosis. These small, automatic measurements picked up on things like hand coordination, thinking speed, fatigue, and sleep quality in ways that occasional clinic visits often miss. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that specific brain training and memory rehabilitation programs — known as cognitive rehabilitation — can genuinely help people with multiple sclerosis manage thinking and memory difficulties, with five of these approaches now having strong enough evidence to be considered standard practice. This matters because thinking problems, like trouble with memory or concentration, are common in multiple sclerosis and can significantly affect daily life, yet they often get less attention than physical symptoms. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
The Lancet · October 23, 2026
Researchers found that a drug called remibrutinib worked better than an existing multiple sclerosis pill called teriflunomide (brand name Aubagio) at reducing relapses — periods when MS symptoms flare up or get worse — in people with a form of MS that comes and goes over time. The study also found that remibrutinib appeared to be reasonably safe and well tolerated. This looks like it could be a new oral (taken by mouth) treatment option for this condition, though it is not yet approved for use.
What's New
PubMed · October 19, 2026
Researchers found that tolebrutinib, a pill being studied for multiple sclerosis (MS), may help slow the worsening of disability — meaning it could help people with MS keep more of their physical function over time. The studies also suggested it had a reasonable safety profile, with no major unexpected harms identified. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 7, 2026
Researchers found that people with multiple sclerosis are much more likely to develop trigeminal neuralgia — a condition causing severe facial pain — than the general population, and that pain medications often don't help enough. Looking at data from over 1,600 patients across 32 studies, researchers examined several surgical options and found that a procedure called microvascular decompression (which relieves pressure on the nerve causing the pain) can provide long-lasting relief in some patients, though it also carries a higher risk of serious complications, while another procedure called partial sensory rhizotomy (which reduces nerve signals responsible for the pain) showed very high initial success rates of 95–100%. Understanding which surgery works best for which patient could matter a great deal for people living with this difficult-to-treat pain condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) — a disease where the immune system attacks the nervous system, affecting movement, vision, and energy — may benefit emotionally from structured support programs like talk therapy, mindfulness, and peer-led groups, with all seven studies reviewed showing meaningful short-term improvements in anxiety, depression, and coping. However, it's not yet clear whether these benefits last beyond six to twelve months, which leaves an important question open for future research. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
A study found that a specially designed ankle brace — called a hybrid passive spring-damper ankle-foot orthosis — helped people with multiple sclerosis who have weakness on one side of their body walk more steadily and symmetrically right away after putting it on. Researchers found it reduced the wide, cautious steps people often take to avoid falling, and it improved balance between the weaker and stronger leg during walking. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that rehabilitation exercises focused on the arms and hands — such as technology-assisted, home-based, and task-oriented programs — may help reduce fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis, a condition where the immune system damages nerves and causes symptoms like extreme tiredness, weakness, and difficulty moving. The review looked at nine studies involving 250 participants and measured fatigue using standardized scales, finding some promising results across different types of upper-body exercise programs. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that combining exercise with a mild brain stimulation technique — which uses gentle electrical currents applied to the scalp to nudge brain activity — helped people with multiple sclerosis work out more efficiently, meaning their hearts didn't have to work as hard to perform the same physical effort, and their walking speed improved afterward. However, there appeared to be a trade-off: thinking and processing speed seemed to dip temporarily, suggesting the brain may have been directing its resources toward physical performance rather than mental tasks. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that in multiple sclerosis (MS) trials, patients taking teriflunomide — a common MS medication — tended to have fewer relapses (sudden worsening of symptoms) in more recent studies compared to older ones, even though they were taking the same drug. This suggests that the types of patients enrolled in MS trials may have changed over time, perhaps including people with milder disease activity, which could affect how new MS treatments get compared and evaluated. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that two proteins measurable in a blood sample — called GFAP and NfL — may help predict a form of multiple sclerosis (MS) worsening that happens gradually, even when a person isn't having relapses (the sudden flare-ups most people associate with MS). This kind of slow, hidden progression can quietly add up to more disability over time, so having a simple blood test that flags it early could be meaningful for people living with MS and their doctors. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a web-based program — including one-on-one conversations, nurse-led online sessions, and chat support — helped people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (a form of MS where symptoms come and go) feel more involved in decisions about managing their relapses, which are sudden flare-ups of symptoms. The study also highlighted that in Germany, most relapses are treated with high-dose steroids given through a vein, even though many countries prefer a simpler pill form, and that busy schedules often get in the way of patients having real conversations with their care team about their options. Understanding how programs like this work in real clinical settings could help more patients with MS feel informed and confident during a relapse. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that ponesimod, an oral pill used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (a form of MS where symptoms come and go in episodes), appeared to remain effective and relatively safe over a remarkably long follow-up period of up to 13 years — one of the longest of its kind for this type of medication. People taking the drug showed lower relapse rates over time and a meaningful reduction in brain lesions (areas of damage visible on MRI scans), which are markers doctors use to track how active MS is. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that cannabinoid treatments — particularly a combination of THC and CBD — helped reduce spasticity (the muscle stiffness and tightness that many people with multiple sclerosis experience) compared to a placebo, or dummy treatment. The improvements were modest, and while side effects were common, serious ones were rare. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether cannabinoid medications might help reduce the patient's muscle stiffness from multiple sclerosis, based on what recent research studies have found.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.