My sister is the same way. I hate to poo-poo every new "discovery" she sends me but I don't think she realizes how many of these things we see day in and day out.

Interesting link Harry, thanks for adding it.

Personally I think MS is a blanket term for what is likely numerous disease processes. The presentation and progression are too unpredictable to satisfy me that we are looking at the same disease. While I'm definitely open to the metabolic theory I believe MS to be largely of an autoimmune origin.

I don't believe scientists or even the pharm companies are doing anything to keep us sick. They have families also and especially with the scientists they have far more to gain by finding a cure and moving on to another condition as there is no end of horrid diseases out there to work on if for some stroke of genius someone managed to solve the mystery of MS.

Jules,

The metabolic theory does involve the immune system but as a reactionary force as opposed to origination one. I guess time will tell whether it's correct or not.

As for Big Pharma....i agree with you in that they don't want to keep people sick but their focus is not about cure, it's about long term treatment. They are in business for one reason only and that is to make the bottom line as black as possible.

What I would like to see (and it won't happen) is co-operation among the scientists and docs when it comes these recent theories. But the established world of MS medicine is extremely protective of their theories and don't get in their way....or else!

Harry

I think it has been suspected to be related to inflammation for a long time and that's why even neuros will say you should take vitamin D and get sun to lower inflammation. I think that's why Copaxone works well for so many, because it tricks the body into thinking there is inflammation in the area of the shot so the body "flares" there instead of going into attack mode on the nervous system.

That is my crude understanding of how they think Copaxone works against MS relapses.

Kicker, ditto...

I read the report from Rocky Mountain MS Center with interest too.
I also liked how they tied everything up into perspectives like: The disease should be called Relapsing Repairing. We do well with that until the system can no longer repair itself and then it becomes Progressive. They suggest that the people who do well are fortunate that their systems are able to repair the damage. So a remission is not a true remission. The disease goes on and thankfully the brain has fixed itself.
Some people come along who do not enjoy that luxury. The go right into progression. Its all about our systems being able to self repair.
They also suggest that a patient can appear fine in an exam but the disease can be very active. Makes me wonder if a routine MRI is in order to really see whats going on. And now, the think B-cells may play a larger role than T-cells. Sounds like a lot of study still needs to be done.

One thing is for sure...M.S. involves the immune system and the brain. The two least understood mechanisms in the human body. I always wanted to be an enigma!