This is the best news article I’ve come along in a long time. It was titled:

‘Holy Grail’ MS discovery could prevent disability using diabetes drug

For the first time in ages this talks about stopping the disability not reducing relapses. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/holy-grail-ms-discovery-could-prevent-disability-using-diabetes-drug/

In MS, the protective coating surrounding nerves known as myelin is damaged causing them to become less energy efficient which makes them vulnerable to further damage and causes disability over time, the MS Society said.

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Following a research programme spanning more than a decade, researchers at the University of Edinburgh, partly funded by the MS Society, discovered a natural mechanism in the body that tackles this issue, which they are calling ARMD (axonal response of mitochondria to demyelination).

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While researchers said this natural function alone does not provide enough energy to address demyelination in MS, its discovery raised the possibility of using a drug to enhance it.

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But the team said that after further research they were able to enhance ARMD and protect the vulnerable nerves using the diabetes drug pioglitazone.

This is news, breaking news if you ask me. A drug that will protect the demyelination in MS!!!! If that isn’t an OMG moment for anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis, I don’t know what is.

Oh wait, we still have to remember this drug ALREADY EXISTS. The drug that they learned that can enhance the energy level to protect the myelin and thus the nerves surrounding them is already known!!!! It doesn’t have to be invented and then go through hundreds of trials before ever seeing the market. This drug is here let the clinical trials begin. Maybe we can fast track a real solution for so many people with MS.

I don’t know where this leaves people like me who are already significantly disabled, but I’d be happy to know I wouldn’t get any worse. I’d be happy to know that there are people out there that would never get to my level of disability. I would still consider that a big win. Hopefully we can see more about this all over the news. I’m always hopeful for a cure but I’ll take anything that makes a difference.

Full article https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/holy-grail-ms-discovery-could-prevent-disability-using-diabetes-drug/