MS Treatments Now Stop 95% of Relapses for Patients

Twenty years ago, an MS diagnosis meant preparing for progressive disability. Today, patients have access to over 20 disease-modifying therapies that can stop the disease in its tracks.

Dr. Ann Cabot, a neurologist at The Elliot in New Hampshire, has watched the transformation firsthand. When she started treating patients, she had only a handful of treatment options. Now high-efficacy therapies like natalizumab and B-cell treatments are reducing relapses, limiting brain changes, and preventing nerve damage with unprecedented success.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks the protective covering around nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Most people are diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, making it a disease that strikes people in their prime working and family years.

The breakthrough isn't just about stopping MS progression. The Elliot's approach combines medical treatments with physical therapy, nutrition guidance, and exercise programs tailored to each patient's needs.

Exercise has proven especially powerful against one of MS's most debilitating symptoms: crushing fatigue. Regular physical activity significantly improves energy levels while building strength and muscle tone. The key is finding the right program for each individual.

Why This Inspires

The future of MS care looks even brighter. Researchers are developing blood tests that can detect disease activity before brain scans show changes, allowing doctors to adjust treatment earlier. This could prevent damage that current monitoring methods miss entirely.

Scientists are also working on remyelination therapies that could actually repair nerve damage rather than just stopping new attacks. While early studies haven't succeeded yet, the research continues with promising new approaches using combination therapies and repurposed drugs.

For newly diagnosed patients, the message is clear: an MS diagnosis today carries far more hope than fear. The combination of powerful medications, holistic wellness support, and emerging treatments means people with MS can plan for active, fulfilling futures rather than inevitable decline.