دعوة لحضور ندوة حول مرض تصلب الأعصاب المتعدد

Call to increase awareness on Multiple Sclerosis
Friday, 02 July 2010 03:39





Share



DOHA: With an estimated 200 patients living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Qatar, experts have urged for an increased awareness about the degenerative disorder that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
Research has shown that fitness boosts cognitive power in patients suffering from the disease that otherwise can cause serious sensory abnormalities.
Experts including neurologists, radiologist and surgeons from round the region, discussed symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, experiences and other interventions for MS at an event hosted by Supreme Council of Health and MS Society Qatar, yesterday. The event was a continuum of various activities as part of the World MS Day on May 26.
“Public awareness about MS is of high importance due to the various effects it can have on the individual, society and the nation as a whole,” said Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri, Assistant Secretary-General of Medical Affairs, SCH.
MS is an inflammatory, chronic, degenerative disorder in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord are damaged.
“The disorder hits the nervous system initially and gradually many bodily functions become affected. This can cause physiological, social and physical problems for the patients. The worst part is that the disease usually occurs in young adults during their productive age.
Hence a huge portion of the productive segments of manpower can be lost affecting the development process of countries.”
“Hence people should be informed about the disease and its symptoms so that the issue can be controlled at the onset itself. The treatment options are still being developed and if treated early, it can remove serious problems that can arise later. Even the healthcare practitioners should be educated on MS so that diagnosis and treatment can be made fast,” said Dr Al Marri. The disorder leading to demyelination of nerve cells which causes scarring and hardening of nerve tissue in the spinal cord, brain, and optic nerves. Demyelination also slows conduction of nerve impulses, which results in weakness, numbness, pain, and vision loss.
Although much is known about the mechanisms involved in the disease process, the cause remains unknown. At least two million people round the world today battle the disorder and are more common in females.
However, studies show that fitness can help boost the brain function as exercises can promote growth of grey matter or myelin sheath. “In a study, researchers assessed fitness, cognitive function and brain structural changes in 21 women with a specific type of MS.
The results showed that highly fit patients performed much better on cognitive function tests than less-fit patients,” said Raed Alroughani, Department of Medicine – Neurology, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.
According to the study, MRI showed that higher levels of fitness were associated with greater volume of gray matter, which is linked to vital brain processing skills.
Exercise promotes production of proteins called nerve growth factors, which play an important role in the growth and maintenance of neurons in the brain. The hypothesis is that aerobic exercise enhances nerve growth factors which increases the volume of gray matter and increases the integrity of white matter which can result in improvement in cognitive function.
MS treatment, today, focuses on disease modifying therapies, symptomatic therapies, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
Future MS therapies focus on prevention, stopping inflammation and stem cell therapy. Experts hope that in future, a simple eye may help diagnose MS in its earliest stages and enable researchers to assess the effectiveness of treatment. The Peninsula