Multiple Sclerosis is one of those disease that does not have a cure and gets progressively worse as the patient suffering from the disease ages. Medicine has come a long way over the years as far as far as slowing down the advances of the disease and improving the quality of life of the individual who is suffering from MS, but there’s still a really long way to go if we really want to help individuals who are dealing with this disease.
One of those advances may have been made recently. Researchers believe that they have discovered a new marker that will help predict the spread of symptoms in MS. MRI data has revealed that the atrophy or disappearance of brain lesions can act as a predictor of deterioration when someone has MS. When a brain lesion disappears, cerebrospinal fluid can form, which is an indicator of deteriorating conditions. The appearance and disappearance of brain lesions can give doctors the information that they need to predict how MS symptoms will progress.
This information was found by researchers at the University of Buffalo in Upstate New York after the course of a ten year study. The findings were presented back in April at a conference in Los Angeles. Over 175 different patients were examined.
Hopefully, this new advance will allow doctors to pinpoint better treatment methods for those with MS. Researchers still have some work to do as far as utilizing this information, but it’s a huge step forward.
MS symptoms tend to be more pronounced in the elderly, simply because the disease advances in severity over the course of time. Unfortunately, our elderly loved ones are the ones that suffer most from MS symptoms. They may have advanced disabilities or they may even need a lot more help getting through their daily tasks. The use of an in-home care service can be a large help to families as they struggle to keep up with the care of a loved one. However, the use of the right service can take a huge load off of families and help them to thrive once again. Caring for a loved one is hard, but having a professional on your side to help you can be a blessing.
If you’ve never considered in-home care, maybe now is the time to start. But, whatever you do, be sure that you take into account your loved one’s situation before settling on a caregiver or other senior care service. For example, MS presents a very different set of needs than something like Alzheimer’s disease does. Both can benefit from professional care, but the skills needed by that caregiver are going to be different. Matching your parent’s needs up with the appropriate care service will enable you to give them the best care that you can. Ask questions before you sign up for anything to make sure you’re making the right choice. It is your loved one’s health after all, and the right professional on your side will make a world of difference.
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