Australian scientists have released a study in which they say MS is not a myelin disease. Rather their research implicates a particular brain cell, the astrocyte.

Have a look at this article and see for yourself.

http://www.msra.org.au/nmo-discovery

In a nutshell, the article is saying that one version of MS, NMO (or neuromyelitis optica), affects the optic nerve and spinal canal. How many of us have had optic neuritis? How many have had problems with their arms, legs, bladder, bowels?

Studies of that version (NMO) have shown the destruction of a certain brain cell (the astrocyte) because it's missing one of the key components. That component is named AQP4.

"If we can measure in MS and NMO patients their level of antibodies against AQP4 there may be a possibility to have a diagnosis of people who might likely develop NMO and MS very early."

The article goes on to say :

"The fact that the immediate cause of the demyelination is the same in both NMO and MS, this discovery is the strongest evidence to date to suggest that demyelination is secondary (not the cause) of MS."

If we believe this article, then the study opens up the potential for treatment to prevent MS, rather than treatment to cure the disease once a person has been afflicted.

Yes... very encouraging.

It'll be interesting to see how this information is received by the U.S. neurologic community...
thanks for bringing this here...

Thanks Koala, the more facts we have, the closer we get.

That's an interesting take on it. I look forward to hearing what more they learn from this. Thanks for the info, Anne!

Thanks for posting this info, Koala. With research coming at this miserable disease from different perspectives, hopefully the mystery will be unlocked soon.

I too will be interested in what my own MS doc thinks of this. I have often wondered why symptoms are often seen as the disease, and not side-effects of the disease process.