Do you know the one similarity between these three celebrities? (Pictured from left to right: Jack Osbourne, Montel Williams, Teri Garr)
(Courtesy by US Magazine)
So, what do Jack Osbourne, Montel Williams, and Teri Garr have in common? They are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis or MS for short. This leads us to the question, what exactly is MS? Well, MS is a disease that affects two very important parts of the body, the central nervous system and the brain. MS is heavily researched, yet there is no cure. However, new treatments are being discovered everyday such as using lipoic acid at OHSU.
Areas Affected by MS
(Courtesy of PubMed Health)
Before examining treatments and getting into the thick of things, we must know how MS affects the body. MS is called an autoimmune disease as the body attacks its own nervous system. More specifically, the myelin sheath, a special coating that surrounds the nerves throughout the body. The purpose of the myelin sheath is to protect the nerves from physical damage. When the myelin sheath is damaged or fails to do its job, the results can be catastrophic. The nerve becomes damaged by inflammation when the body’s immune cells attack the nervous system. This can occur in deadly areas such as the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord. Damage to these areas can be detrimental and may eventually lead to death.
Can something found in these foods really cure MS?
(Courtesy of National Importers)
Furthermore, one of the more recent forms of treatment is using lipoic acid. Lipoic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in every single cell of the body. Its primary use is producing energy as it converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy. Lipoic acid is able to carry out its many functions because it is an antioxidant. Many people have heard of the term anti-oxidant as large corporations are constantly advertising the term and its health benefits. Inside your body are harmful chemicals known as free radicals that allow for damaging chemical chain reaction. Lipoic acid is different from the anti-oxidants, which you normally find in those fancy juice bottles, as it appears to be able recycle anti-oxidants after they are used. This effect mainly takes place in the brain where MS occurs; also lipoic acid protects nerves from damage.
Below is a video outlining the development of the lipoic acid treatment
So, is this really the new wonder drug? Currently, the study is still in the experimental stage as it has only been tested on mice. However, the results showed remission of the MS-like disease therefore there is some hope. If you or a loved one is suffering or believed to have MS please visit MS Canada for more details.
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