17-06-2011 05:46 Multiple Sclerosis. MS.
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Multiple Sclerosis - Kimberley's Story - Video
Cosmetic treatment benefits MS patients
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Botox is now being used to treat people with multiple sclerosis coping with incontinence.
Lisa Fine walks with confidence and little pain. Three months ago that was not the case.
“You’re walking somewhere and thinking everything is fine and urine just starts streaming down your leg,” Fine said.
No bladder control is one of the silent symptoms Fine has living with multiple sclerosis: a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system.
That was before she was injected with the popular cosmetic treatment, Botox.
Dr. Marlene Murphy says, “Botox is a neuro toxin. It stops spasms in muscles whether they are in your face, whether they are in your shoulder or neck or leg or your bladder.”
Dr. Murphy is a urologist at the Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford.
“Basically the way it works, by injecting it into the bladder, it paralyzes a muscle and allows the bladder to hold just like my bladder,” Dr. Murphy said.
Fine is ecstatic with the results.
“I had very little expectations,” Fine said. “It blew it away, it blew it away.”
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Cosmetic treatment benefits MS patients
Cyclists Raise Millions for Multiple Sclerosis
BOONE COUNTY – Organizers of the annual Bike MS fundraiser said Saturday they hope to come close to last year’s fundraising total.
Dan Friedman, Director of Marketing and Communication for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Gateway Chapter, said almost 3,000 riders took part in the race this year. He said there were slightly more riders last year, but he estimates the chapter has raised about the same amount of money as they had at this time last year. He said final numbers won’t be available for another month. Last year’s Bike MS raised more than $2 million.
Steven Becker, who has ridden in the event for the past five years, said he likes the fact that three different routes are available for riders with different abilities. He said Saturday morning’s cool, sunny weather was perfect cycling weather.
Thy Huskey, a rehab physician who has multiple sclerosis, said she is always impressed with the bikers’ energy and effort.
“It’s an incredible event,” she said. “The bikers always outdo themselves.”
Huskey specializes in patients recovering from brain injuries such as strokes. She said she considers herself fortunate to have multiple sclerosis because it gives her greater insight into what her patients are dealing with. In addition to her duties as a physician, Huskey teaches at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
This year’s Bike MS continues on Sunday with another set of routes.
Biogen Idec Submits Application to FDA for Approval of Oral BG-12 to Treat Multiple Sclerosis
WESTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Today Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB - News) announced the company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing approval of BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate), the companys oral therapeutic candidate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The regulatory submission was based on BG-12s comprehensive development program, in which BG-12 demonstrated significant reductions in MS disease activity coupled with favorable safety and tolerability in the Phase 3 DEFINE and CONFIRM studies.
While there have been important therapeutic advances in MS over the last 15 years, there is still a significant unmet need for new and innovative therapies that target the disease in different ways, said Douglas E. Williams, Ph.D., Biogen Idecs executive vice president of Research and Development. Based on the robust clinical efficacy and safety data seen in our Phase 3 studies, we believe BG-12 has the potential to become an important oral treatment option for MS patients.
Biogen Idec plans to submit a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for BG-12 to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) within the coming days.
The rapid submissions of our BG-12 regulatory packages, which integrated one of the largest placebo-controlled data sets for a filing in MS, reflect our commitment to bringing additional therapies to patients in need as quickly as possible, concluded Dr. Williams. We anticipate hearing from regulatory authorities regarding the status and acceptance of our submissions within the next couple of months.
About BG-12
BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) is an investigational oral therapy in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of MS. BG-12 is the only currently known investigational compound for the treatment of RRMS that has experimentally demonstrated activation of the Nrf-2 pathway. In 2011, Biogen Idec announced positive data from DEFINE and CONFIRM, two global, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials that evaluated 240 mg of BG-12, administered either twice a day or three times a day, for two years.
AboutBiogen Idec
Through cutting-edge science and medicine,Biogen Idecdiscovers, develops and delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia and autoimmune disorders. Founded in 1978,Biogen Idecis the worlds oldest independent biotechnology company. Patients worldwide benefit from its leading multiple sclerosis therapies, and the company generates more than$5 billionin annual revenues. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com.
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Biogen Idec Submits Application to FDA for Approval of Oral BG-12 to Treat Multiple Sclerosis
Active ingredient of cannabis has no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis, study suggests
ScienceDaily (June 15, 2012) The first large non-commercial study to investigate whether the main active constituent of cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) is effective in slowing the course of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) shows that there is no evidence to suggest this; although benefits were noted for those at the lower end of the disability scale.
The CUPID (Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease) study was carried out by researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), Plymouth University. The study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on behalf of the MRC-NIHR partnership, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.
The preliminary results of CUPID are to be presented by lead researcher Professor John Zajicek at the Association of British Neurologists’ Annual Meeting in Brighton on May 29th.
CUPID enrolled nearly 500 people with MS from 27 centres around the UK, and has taken eight years to complete. People with progressive MS were randomised to receive either THC capsules or identical placebo capsules for three years, and were carefully followed to see how their MS changed over this period. The two main outcomes of the trial were a disability scale administered by neurologists (the Expanded Disability Status Scale), and a patient report scale of the impact of MS on people with the condition (the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29).
Overall the study found no evidence to support an effect of THC on MS progression in either of the main outcomes. However, there was some evidence to suggest a beneficial effect in participants who were at the lower end of the disability scale at the time of enrollment but, as the benefit was only found in a small group of people rather than the whole population, further studies will be needed to assess the robustness of this finding. One of the other findings of the trial was that MS in the study population as a whole progressed slowly, more slowly than expected. This makes it more challenging to find a treatment effect when the aim of the treatment is that of slow progression.
As well as evaluating the potential neuroprotective effects and safety of THC over the long-term, one of the aims of the CUPID study was to improve the way that clinical trial research is done by exploring newer methods of measuring MS and using the latest statistical methods to make the most of every piece of information collected. This analysis will continue for several months. The CUPID study will therefore provide important information about conducting further large scale clinical trials in MS.
Professor John Zajicek, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at PCMD, Plymouth University, said: “To put this study into context: current treatments for MS are limited, either being targeted at the immune system in the early stages of the disease or aimed at easing specific symptoms such as muscle spasms, fatigue or bladder problems. At present there is no treatment available to slow MS when it becomes progressive. Progression of MS is thought to be due to death of nerve cells, and researchers around the world are desperately searching for treatments that may be ‘neuroprotective’. Laboratory experiments have suggested that certain cannabis derivatives may be neuroprotective.”
He added: “Overall our research has not supported laboratory based findings and shown that, although there is a suggestion of benefit to those at the lower end of the disability scale when they joined CUPID, there is little evidence to suggest that THC has a long term impact on the slowing of progressive MS.”
Dr Doug Brown, Head of Biomedical Research at the MS Society, said: “There are currently no treatments for people with progressive MS to slow or stop the worsening of disability. The MS Society is committed to supporting research in this area and this was an important study for us to fund. While this study sadly suggests THC is ineffective at slowing the course of progressive MS, we will not stop our search for effective treatments. We are encouraged by the possibility shown by this study that THC may have potential benefits for some people with MS and we welcome further investigation in this area.”
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Active ingredient of cannabis has no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis, study suggests
Will multiple sclerosis respond to herbals?
Dear Dr. Gott: Please give me information on multiple sclerosis. Do you recommend any holistic or natural supplements that are helpful in treating the condition? My 41-year-old daughter-in-law has just been diagnosed with it. Thank you. Your column is very informative.
Dear Reader: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the protective sheath covering the nerves. This, in turn, interferes with signals between the brain and the remainder of the body, resulting in nerve deterioration.
Symptoms vary from person to person but can include an inability to speak or walk, dizziness, tremor, unsteady gait, double or blurred vision, weakness on one side of the body at a time or on the bottom half of the body. Increases in body temperature can worsen symptoms.
For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Daily Reflector. Current home delivery and electronic edition subscribers may log in to access this article at no charge. To become a subscriber, please click here or contact Customer Service at (252) 329-9505.
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Will multiple sclerosis respond to herbals?
TEDxIowaCity – Dr. Terry Wahls – Minding Your Mitochondria – Video
30-11-2011 13:59 Dr. Terry Wahls learned how to properly fuel her body. Using the lessons she learned at the subcellular level, she used diet to cure her MS and get out of her wheelchair.
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TEDxIowaCity - Dr. Terry Wahls - Minding Your Mitochondria - Video
Aging and MS — National MS Society – Video
31-08-2011 13:22 MS Learn Online is the National MS Society's online educational webcast series. This video features a discussion with George Kraft, MD, who talks about aging and multiple sclerosis.
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Aging and MS -- National MS Society - Video
New Study Tests Possible Treatment for MS – Video
22-08-2011 15:23 Ground-breaking research at Case Western Reserve University has led to a new clinical trial of an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis. A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center have come together to test the feasibility and safety of using the body's own stem cells to treat MS.
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New Study Tests Possible Treatment for MS - Video
MS, Vitamin D and Viruses…a MUST SEE! – Video
27-12-2011 07:37 http://www.DrKrupka.com Dr. Krupka gives a detailed account of how Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is affected by vitamin D levels and Viral history. This is some serious content and worth watching more than once. If you have an autoimmune disease or know someone who does, grab your pen and paper to take notes and change your life!! Pass it on to your friends.
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MS, Vitamin D and Viruses...a MUST SEE! - Video
P4A 2011 : Multiple Sclerosis – Video
17-12-2011 16:30 You can support MS Research by visiting these sites: http://www.mssociety.org.uk http://www.nationalmssociety.org For the entirety of Project for Awesome, ALL SALES FROM MY BANDCAMP will be donated directly to the MS Society. If you care to donate, you can do so by going to my page here: http://www.AlexCarpenter.BandCamp.com To learn more about the disease, you can go here ms.about.com or a multitude of other places on the web. If you are not familiar with the disease, please take a moment to read about it. For the entirety of Project for Awesome, ALL SALES FROM MY BANDCAMP will be donated directly to the MS Society. If you care to donate, you can do so by going to my page here: http://www.AlexCarpenter.BandCamp.com If you would like to donate directly, I urge you to go here A quick word about how personal this is to me: I have not written about this, because I am a pretty private person when it comes to real things in my real life, but I know a couple people who are affected by MS to varying degrees in their lives. Someone who I look up to a lot and I love very dearly has had the illness for more than 15 years and it has become a very major and real part of his everyday life, which serves as a daily reminder for me to do all that I can to try and help the cause in every way I can. I have seen firsthand how difficult living with MS can be. Project for Awesome is a day that we are meant to talk about things that are truly important to us, that we unconditionally care about. I have always held back ...
CCSVI – Multiple Sclerosis and the Immune System – David Hubbard MD – CCSVI – Video
18-01-2012 17:00 David Hubbard MD, Neurologist, discusses Multiple Sclerosis, CCSVI and the immune system.
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CCSVI - Multiple Sclerosis and the Immune System - David Hubbard MD - CCSVI - Video
Spasticity and MS: Management Strategies – Video
13-01-2012 12:56 Featuring: Dr. Stephen Krieger, Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia, and Dr. Susan Bennett
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Spasticity and MS: Management Strategies - Video
Past 3 Months of MS – Video
31-12-2011 17:42 NEWEST PODCAST jpmetz.com Subscribe to my Podcast on iTunes! itunes.apple.com MAIN CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com TUMBLR ihategeese.tumblr.com TWITTER http FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com
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Past 3 Months of MS - Video
Financial Well-Being Series: Invest in Yourself – Video
25-01-2012 07:16 The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America in coordination with the National Disability Institute are pleased to present "Invest in Yourself" - the fourth in a series of four webinars designed to assist the MS community in learning about strategies to protect and improve their financial well-being. These programs offer hands-on guidance specifically tailored to the unique needs and interests of people living with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). MSAA provides ongoing support and direct services to individuals with MS and the people close to them. The National Disability Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to improving the financial stability and mobility of persons with disabilities and their families.
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Financial Well-Being Series: Invest in Yourself - Video
Judy's MS Story – Video
23-01-2012 19:34 Judy shares her story about her son Bruce who passed away in 2010 after a battle with an incredibly aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS). Bruce was only in his early 30's. Judy is a loving mother who is very thankful to MS Queensland who cared for Bruce up until his death at their long term care facility, Granston Lodge in Dutton Park on Brisbane's southside. Thank you to Pete Ireland and The Production Room for volunteering their expertise, resources and time to produce this heartfelt video for the MS Society.
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Judy's MS Story - Video
Sanofi faces uphill struggle in MS drug market
PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi SA risks falling behind in the battle for share of the fast-growing multi-billion euro multiple sclerosis (MS) market, as rivals push ahead with revolutionary treatments while doubts remain over the French drugmaker's own drug candidates.
Sanofi, which has relied on blood thinners and cancer therapies to drive sales but faces increased competition from generic drug versions, is preparing to submit two MS treatments for approval this year.
But it faces an uphill battle to catch Novartis AG's Gilenya and Biogen Idec Inc's BG-12, set to dominate a market that JPMorgan analysts see growing to $14 billion (8 billion pound) in 2015 from $9.6 billion last year.
"Sanofi will remain a small player compared with Biogen or Novartis, but it will still remain on the radar screen," said Beatrice Muzard, an analyst at brokerage Natixis.
MS, which has no cure, affects 2.5 million people worldwide. It is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system and can lead to numbness, paralysis and loss of vision.
Standard treatment has involved injected drugs such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's Copaxone, Tysabri - sold by Biogen and Elan Ltd - and interferons. But the approval of Gilenya in 2010 introduced a potent new option in pill form.
Gilenya and other oral MS treatments in late-stage development such as BG-12 are expected to drive growth in the sector.
But analysts estimate Sanofi will grab only a modest share, given question marks over its drug candidates Aubagio and Lemtrada. Natixis' Muzard predicts the French firm's MS drugs could have peak sales of just 1 billion euros - not enough to plug the gap left by loss of earnings from the arrival of generic competition to its top blood thinner, Plavix.
STICKING POINT
Sanofi acquired Lemtrada through its $20.1 billion takeover of U.S. biotech group Genzyme last year, when it was already developing MS pill Aubagio. If approved, both drugs could end up reaching the U.S. and European markets by the end of the year.
"It's pretty unusual for a company to come out with two new products at once, and actually cover the spectrum of the disease," Sanofi Chief Executive Chris Viehbacher told Reuters.
Trouble is, there are doubts about both medicines.
Lemtrada was the main sticking point in the protracted merger talks between Sanofi and Genzyme and, at the time, Viehbacher's team was keen to talk down its prospects. Genzyme had projected peak Lemtrada sales of $3.5 billion a year, while Sanofi pitched the number at around $700 million.
The final deal between the two companies included a "contingent value right" , a tradeable security that gives payouts to Genzyme investors if certain revenue targets are met, to bridge their differences.
"When we were acquiring Genzyme, we were rightly sceptical of Lemtrada, because I am not keen on paying for things that are not proven," Viehbacher said.
"Now that we have seen the clinical trial results - I have seen them but I cannot say more because we are going to publish them in April - we are very excited about this multiple sclerosis franchise."
Unlike older MS drugs that have to be injected daily or weekly, Lemtrada is given just once a year.
"I think Lemtrada is going to be completely different than everything else, which makes it difficult for the market to assess," said Viehbacher.
Certainly analyst views vary widely. Morgan Stanley is forecasting 1 billion euros in peak sales for Lemtrada, while Nomura only sees $360 million.
Medical experts back Viehbacher's view that a wider choice of treatments is needed given the unpredictable nature of MS.
"Doctors and patients are looking for multiple options because the disease is so variable," said Tim Coetzee, chief research officer of the U.S.-based National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "A drug that is effective in some patients may not be effective in other patients."
LATER STAGE
Yet Lemtrada's prospects remain far from certain. During mid-stage tests the drug showed an unprecedented level of efficacy in reducing relapses over a three-year period, but this outcome was not repeated in a later-stage trial.
It can also have serious side effects, which make it likely to be prescribed only to treat more severe forms of the disease.
Compared with older therapies, Aubagio has the advantage of being an oral drug. But it has produced less impressive results in clinical tests than BG-12 and Gilenya - though heart issues have recently cast a shadow over Gilenya.
In one recent study, Aubagio failed to show it was better than Rebif, a commonly used injectable interferon from Germany's Merck KGaA , although it did have milder side effects.
"Aubagio won't take a lot of market share ... but it could find a niche on the basis of its safety profile," said Muzard, who is forecasting sales of around 400 million euros in 2018, compared with 2.6 billion for Gilenya.
That niche could be found among newly diagnosed patients, since around 35 to 40 percent prefer to take no medication rather than face unwanted side effects.
"Here's the challenge: convincing patients to start therapy," said Kevin Richard, co-founder of U.S. consultancy ClearView Healthcare Partners. "In this case Aubagio could be prescribed to patients who are not on interferons yet and who are hesitant to start injections."
Sanofi filed Aubagio with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October and aims to submit it for approval in Europe in the first quarter of 2012, when it also expects to file Lemtrada with both regulators.
(Additional reporting by Ben Hirschler in London; Editing by David Holmes)
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Sanofi faces uphill struggle in MS drug market
ASCEND Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of TYSABRI® (natalizumab) as a Treatment for Secondary-Progressive Multiple …
WESTON, Mass. & DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB - News) and Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN - News) today announced a global Phase 3b study, ASCEND, that is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of TYSABRI as a treatment for secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately half of all people initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) - the most common form of multiple sclerosis (MS) - will transition to SPMS within 19 years.
Patients with RRMS typically experience unpredictable relapses; the time between relapses is characterized by full or partial recovery and a lack of disease progression. SPMS is characterized by a steady progression of nerve damage, symptoms and disability, but the exact reasons for the progression are unknown. The potential for greater disease burden in SPMS typically includes decreased mobility, impaired activities of daily living, loss of independence and reduced quality of life.
"There are limited treatment options available to people living with SPMS and there is a high unmet need for effective therapies,” said Aaron Miller, M.D., member of the ASCEND advisory board; Medical Director, Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis; and Co-Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. “The ASCEND trial is investigating whether treatment with TYSABRI may prevent worsening in walking, hand movement and daily functioning in these patients.”
"One hypothesis behind the development of SPMS is that disease progression is a result of chronic inflammation in the brain tissue trapped behind the blood-brain-barrier. This causes destruction of the myelin sheath which protects the coating around nerve fibers, as well as the progressive loss of nerve cells, which can lead to disability in MS patients,” said Professor Richard Reynolds, Professor of Cellular Neuroscience, Imperial College, London; and Scientific Director of the UK Multiple Sclerosis Society Tissue Bank. “Preliminary data suggest that TYSABRI may hinder this inflammation in the brain and reduce SPMS-related disease progression; therefore, further investigation of this hypothesis is warranted."
The ASCEND study is part of the ongoing commitment of both Biogen Idec and Elan to find ways to improve the well-being of patients with multiple sclerosis.
About the ASCEND Study
ASCEND (A Study to Characterize the Efficacy of Natalizumab on Disability in SPMS) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with SPMS patients being randomized to receive either TYSABRI 300 mg or placebo intravenously every four weeks for 96 weeks. A global study, ASCEND is expected to enroll approximately 850 patients in 15 countries.
Study participants will be between the ages of 18 and 58, inclusive, with a diagnosis of SPMS for at least two years; an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 3.0 and 6.5, inclusive; MS Severity Score of 4 or higher; documented, confirmed evidence of disease progression, independent of clinical relapses during the one-year prior to enrollment; and naïve to TYSABRI treatment.
The primary endpoint is to investigate whether treatment with TYSABRI slows the accumulation of disability not related to relapses in subjects with SPMS.
Secondary endpoints are:
The proportion of subjects with consistent improvement in Timed 25-foot Walk (T25FW); The change in subject-reported ambulatory status as measured by the 12-Item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12); The change in manual ability based on the ABILHAND questionnaire; The impact of TYSABRI on subject-reported quality of life using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 Physical (MSIS-29 Physical); The change in whole brain volume between the end of study and week 24 using MRI; and The proportion of subjects experiencing progression of disability as measured by individual physical EDSS system scores.
ASCEND is ongoing and actively enrolling patients. Patients interested in learning more about the study may speak with their physician or e-mail neurologyclinicaltrials@biogenidec.com.
About TYSABRI
TYSABRI is approved in more than 65 countries. TYSABRI is approved in the United States as a monotherapy for relapsing forms of MS, generally for patients who have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to tolerate, an alternative MS therapy. In the European Union, it is approved for highly active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in adult patients who have failed to respond to beta interferon or have rapidly evolving, severe RRMS.
TYSABRI has advanced the treatment of MS patients with its established efficacy. Data from the Phase 3 AFFIRM trial, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that after two years, TYSABRI treatment led to a 68 percent relative reduction (p<0.001) in the annualized relapse rate when compared with placebo and reduced the relative risk of disability progression by 42-54 percent (p<0.001).
TYSABRI increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an opportunistic viral infection of the brain which usually leads to death or severe disability. Infection by the JC virus (JCV) is required for the development of PML and patients who are anti-JCV antibody positive have a higher risk of developing PML. Factors that increase the risk of PML are presence of anti-JCV antibodies, prior immunosuppressant use, and longer TYSABRI treatment duration. Patients who have all three risk factors have the highest risk of developing PML. Other serious adverse events that have occurred in TYSABRI-treated patients include hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis) and infections, including opportunistic and other atypical infections. Clinically significant liver injury has also been reported in the post-marketing setting. A list of adverse events can be found in the full TYSABRI product labeling for each country where it is approved.
TYSABRI is marketed and distributed by Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corporation, plc. For full prescribing information and more information about TYSABRI, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com or http://www.elan.com.
About Biogen Idec
Through cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen Idec discovers, develops and delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia and autoimmune disorders. Founded in 1978, Biogen Idec is the world's oldest independent biotechnology company. Patients worldwide benefit from its leading multiple sclerosis therapies, and the company generates nearly $5 billion in annual revenues. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com.
About Elan
Elan Corporation, plc is a neuroscience-focused biotechnology company committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families by dedicating itself to bringing innovations in science to fill significant unmet medical needs that continue to exist around the world. Elan shares trade on the New York and Irish Stock Exchanges. For additional information about Elan, please visit http://www.elan.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the development of TYSABRI in SPMS. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as "anticipate," "belie
ve," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "will" and other words and terms of similar meaning. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including the risk that we may not fully enroll our planned clinical trials, the occurrence of adverse safety events, regulatory authorities may require additional information, further studies, or may fail to grant the desired drug approval, or we may encounter other unexpected hurdles. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the Risk Factors section of our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Form 20-F and Form 6-K and in other reports we file with the SEC. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
My life with multiple sclerosis! – Video
01-02-2012 12:18 my life with multiple sclerosis,enjoy and live your life,and try to think positive 🙂 Male cover version
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My life with multiple sclerosis! - Video
Alzheimer's dementia – ABC News
A Dutch village dubbed "The Truman Show" for dementia patients is getting praise from Alzheimer's experts in the U.S.
The tree-lined streets of Hogewey, a tiny village at the edge of Amsterdam, boast shops, restaurants, a movie theater and a hairdresser. Its 23 apartments are carefully crafted to feel like home to 152 residents.
But Hogewey is not a real village; it's a nursing home.
"Our director compared it to a theater," said Isabel van Zuthem, Hogewey's information officer. "The frontstage is what all the residents experience as a normal way of living, their normal home. But backstage, we are a nursing home. Everything is arranged to give all residents all the care they need. But they feel like they're living a normal life, and that's what we think is very important."
The supermarket cashier, the restaurant manager: all staff who work incognito, specially trained to care for people with dementia. Most of the residents think it's a real village.
"We wouldn't lie about it, of course. If asked, a staff member would say they're living somewhere where they get the care and support they need," said van Zuthem, adding that most residents will forget the response 15 minutes later. "People with dementia, they go back in time. They live in a different world."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 5.4 million Americans. The disease swiftly robs patients of their memories and other brain functions, forcing most to live out their final years in a nursing home.
"Many times, a nursing home is very institutional: nurses walk around in white clothes; people sit together in big rooms to eat meals. We decided that's not how we would like to live when we get old," said Van Zuthem, adding that Hogewey residents are more at ease and need less medication because they feel at home.
While Hogewey has been criticized for creating a fantasy world where nurses pretend to be neighbors, experts say eldercare in the U.S. could benefit from a little improv.
"I'm personally fascinated by the concept of a self-contained village," said Marianne Smith, assistant professor of nursing specializing in dementia care at the University of Iowa. "I don't think it is living out a fantasy as much as it is accommodating the person's desire to live a normal life in a community-like environment. The program is surely better than the usual nursing homes that can resemble hospitals."
Smith said the village design allows dementia patients to experience the world as they currently understand it, even if it's in the past.
"That's the kindest, most compassionate way to care for them," she said. "The village allows them to do be comfortable where they are, and it plays to their strengths. They can still walk, they can still talk, and they can still be with other people."
But the approach isn't cheap. Hogewey cost roughly $25 million dollars to build.
"You can imagine this is not exactly a low-budget solution to a problem that is widespread and increasing daily," said Dr. Richard Caselli, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. "But heck, if you can provide a safe surrogate environment where patients who cannot really think clearly can wander about enjoyably, that would seem to have many advantages."
The freedom to walk outside, shop, visit with friends or just relax can make patients happier and less agitated, meaning fewer mood-altering medications.
"Environmental approaches to reducing both cognitive and behavioral problems associated with dementia are really the key to improving quality of life for these patients without excess medication," said Dr. Paul Newhouse, director of Vanderbilt University's Center for Cognitive Medicine.
Newhouse agreed Hogewey's approach may be the kinder way to care for people with late-stage dementia.
"In fact, I would argue that ethically this is a better solution than what we currently do, namely putting patients in 'mini hospitals' and pretending that this is an appropriate care environment," he said.
Hogewey's frontstage-backstage set-up has earned it comparisons to 'The Truman Show," the Jim Carrey movie about a man unknowingly living on an elaborate film set.
"I doubt that there is any effort in the Netherlands facility to 'fool' the residents into thinking they are not being taken care of for dementia," said Dr. Mark Tuszynski, director of University of California at San Diego's Center for Neural Repair. "Instead, it sounds as though they are trying to create the most naturalistic environment possible for patients. Sounds like a great place."
Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, chief of biological psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., said the idea could be "a game changer" in Alzheimer's care.
"The old saying, 'Treat the person and not the disease' is particularly true in end-stage dementia," he said. "All of us might actually then look forward to getting old!"
While Hogewey might be the most elaborate village-inspired nursing home, it's not the first. In fact Towsley Village Memory Care Center in Chelsea, Mich., is home to 100 dementia patients living in four distinct neighborhoods, complete with 50s-style coffee shops.
"Facilities in the U.S. have had these villages since the mid-1980s," said Geri Hall, a clinical nurse specialist at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. "The biggest practical challenge is that it requires space and special construction, potentially increasing the cost of care. I can't see many American facilities using nurses at a cash register. There are so few [registered nurses] in long-term care, they are pretty busy."
But even small-scale adjustments, like having furniture and entertainment from the familiar decades, can help Alzheimer's patients feel more at home.
"The 'deception' is really adjusting our reality to allow the person with dementia to be in a place that is comforting and safe," said Cynthia Barton, a nurse practitioner at the University of California at San Francisco's Memory and Aging Center. "It is unrealistic to think that they will be able to retain new information or remember our repeated attempts to correct them, so we emphasize strategies to make people feel safe and well cared for."
Barton said she wishes there was a place like Hogewey for her aunt, who currently lives in a nursing home in Connecticut.
"I'd love for her to be able to live in a facility like this that would so much more appropriately meet her needs," she said.
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Alzheimer's dementia - ABC News