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Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, severe fatigue, and pain. Although many patients lead full and rewarding lives, MS can cause impaired mobility and disability in more severe cases.
Multiple sclerosis affects neurons, the cells of the brain and spinal cord that carry information, create thought and perception, and allow the brain to control the body. Surrounding and protecting some of these neurons is a fatty layer known as the myelin sheath, which helps neurons carry electrical signals. MS causes gradual destruction of myelin (demyelination) and transection of neuron axons in patches throughout the brain and spinal cord. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin sheaths. This scarring causes symptoms which vary widely depending upon which signals are interrupted. It is thought that MS results from attacks by an individual's immune system on the nervous system and is therefore categorized as an autoimmune disease.
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Health & Medicine News
October 29, 2025
Oct. 29, 2025 — Finnish scientists found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fish oil impacts each person’s metabolism uniquely. Participants showed strong but short-lived increases in EPA levels, with significant differences in lipid profiles. The results ...
Oct. 29, 2025 — New research reveals that intelligence plays a key role in how well people process speech in noisy environments. The study compared neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals and found that cognitive ability predicted performance across all groups. ...
Oct. 29, 2025 — A team of scientists discovered a hidden antibiotic 100 times stronger than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA. The molecule had been overlooked for decades in a familiar bacterium. It shows no signs of resistance so far, offering ...
Oct. 28, 2025 — An international team of researchers led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, working with 15 collaborators around the world, has conducted the most comprehensive study yet of lifespan differences ...
Oct. 28, 2025 — ETH Zurich scientists have created “MetaGraph,” a revolutionary DNA search engine that functions like Google for genetic data. By compressing global genomic datasets by a factor of 300, it allows researchers to search trillions of DNA and RNA ...
Oct. 28, 2025 — A new study offers reassurance about the safety of certain processed fats found in everyday foods. Interesterified fats made from palm or plant oils didn’t raise cholesterol or cause metabolic harm in healthy adults. The research challenges the ...
Oct. 28, 2025 — Researchers found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines significantly increased survival in lung and skin cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. The vaccine appears to prime the immune system in a powerful, nonspecific way, enhancing cancer treatment ...
Oct. 28, 2025 — New research reveals that walking in longer, uninterrupted bouts of 10–15 minutes significantly lowers cardiovascular disease risk—by up to two-thirds compared to shorter strolls. Scientists from the University of Sydney and Universidad Europea ...
Oct. 27, 2025 — Researchers at UC Davis discovered that adding a banana to your smoothie may drastically reduce the absorption of flavanols — powerful compounds linked to heart and brain health. The culprit is polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme abundant in ...
Oct. 27, 2025 — Generalized anxiety disorder affects millions, often trapping sufferers in cycles of fear and isolation that conventional medications barely relieve. At UCSF, neuroscientist Jennifer Mitchell is testing a pharmaceutical form of LSD called MM120, ...
Oct. 27, 2025 — Groundbreaking research published in The Lancet suggests that most people who believe they’re sensitive to gluten are actually reacting to other factors like FODMAPs or brain-gut dynamics. The study challenges the idea that gluten itself is the ...
Oct. 27, 2025 — King’s College London researchers discovered that parts of our DNA once thought to be “junk” can actually help destroy cancer cells. In some blood cancers, damaged genes trigger chaos in these DNA segments, leaving cancer cells vulnerable. ...
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Oct. 27, 2025 — People with both cavities and gum disease were found to have an 86% higher stroke risk than those with healthy mouths. The study followed thousands of adults for two decades, linking poor oral health ...
Oct. 27, 2025 — A team of researchers has developed a floral-scented fungus that tricks mosquitoes into approaching and dying. The fungus emits longifolene, a natural scent that irresistibly draws them in. It’s ...
Oct. 26, 2025 — Researchers found that life expectancy growth in wealthy nations has dramatically slowed since 1939. Once driven by major reductions in child mortality, longevity gains are now limited by slower ...
Oct. 26, 2025 — GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for diabetes and obesity, may also curb addictive behaviors by acting on reward circuits in the brain. Early trials show reductions in alcohol intake, opioid ...
Oct. 26, 2025 — Researchers have uncovered microbial evidence in the remains of Napoleon’s soldiers from the 1812 Russian retreat. Genetic analysis revealed pathogens behind paratyphoid and relapsing fever, ...
Oct. 26, 2025 — Researchers found that combining regular exercise with omega-3 supplements can make a big difference for oral health. The duo helps the immune system fight off chronic tooth root infections and ...
Oct. 25, 2025 — A new study shows that eating more fruits and vegetables during the day can significantly improve sleep that same night. Researchers found a clear link between diet quality and sleep depth, with ...
Oct. 25, 2025 — Researchers found that neurons can use fat, not just sugar, to power the brain. When a protein called DDHD2 fails, this process breaks down and leads to serious brain problems. Scientists were able ...
Oct. 25, 2025 — Japanese researchers discovered that hair graying and melanoma share a surprising cellular origin. When DNA damage strikes melanocyte stem cells, they may undergo a protective process called ...
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