New Clue Helps Early Detection of MS

Posted September 20, 2013 and tagged with ms news, multiple sclerosis.

Scientists at Rutgers University in Newark tried a new approach to look into the gray matter of MS patients. They analyzed proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which can be thought of as the central nervous system’s “blood.” By comparing the quantity of specific CSF proteins in patients who were newly diagnosed or had the relapsing remitting variety of MS with that of healthy patients, the researchers found an uneven distribution of 20 proteins among the three groups.

In the past, studies have focused on the white matter in the brain, as it shows the impact of degradation much more easily. This shift in focus to the gray matter may bring conclusions not found in white matter studies.

To read more about the findings, visit: the Scientific American Article here.