Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating demyelinating disease. It happens when the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged and signal transmission in the nervous system becomes disrupted.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh found a way how the body could protect itself from the damages of MS. This study could seriously accelerate the search for treatments.

MS is currently incurable. Although treatment and management options are available, they do not have a very high success rate. MS progresses, cutting links between neurons, causing a whole list of psychological and physical symptoms. People with MS may lose their ability to move and suffer from many different psychiatric problems. Body does have its own mechanisms to stop the progression of MS, but scientists were not able to unlock them till now.

This new study revealed that the body recruits the cell’s powerhouse mitochondria to repair damaged areas. This information opened up a new drug target, but what can be used to target it, you may ask? Well, animal studies have shown that a common diabetes drug could help boost the natural mechanism, which could stop the progression of MS.

We already mentioned that MS is a demyelinating disease. This means that its main mechanism is the loss of myelin. Preventing and reversing the demyelination is a major goal for medical scientists. Myelin is an important protective coating that surrounds nerves in the brain and spinal cord. When body starts losing it, nerves become less efficient and susceptible to damage. Scientists found that mitochondrial response is not enough to repair damage in MS, if we could increase it, MS could at least be stopped in its tracks.

Mouse study showed that a common diabetes drug helps boosting that mechanism. Because these drugs are already in use, they are approved and safe. This could speed up the introduction of them to treat MS. Dr Emma Gray, one of the authors of the study, said: “This represents another important stride towards our goal of stopping MS – and we believe that MS treatment could in the near future look completely different. Currently, there are no effective neuroprotective therapies available for MS, but Dr Mahad’s research demonstrates we are getting closer – and finding treatments for everyone with MS is now a very real prospect”.

MS is going to remain incurable for the years to come. However, studies like this allow people to foster hope that it can be cured someday. Encouraging body’s natural responses could be the way to go and using already approved drugs could accelerate the development of new MS treatments.

Source: University of Edinburgh