Progression of multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is a disabling disease of the central nervous system. Within the central nervous system, the immune system causes inflammation that damages myelin which damages nerves. A newly published paper in the Lancet journal EbioMedicine identified a link between high levels of blood lipids and worsening of multiple sclerosis of patients who are overweight. According to the scientist, the individuals who were overweight had higher levels of blood lipids (ceramides), which placed markers on the monocytes which are blood cells that can travel to the brain and damage nerve fibers. Participants two years into their diagnosis, with higher levels of ceramics and monocytes also had greater loss of motor skills and more brain injury.
The researchers also found that overweight individuals with MS have higher ceramide levels than people with the disease who are not overweight, and then individuals who are overweight or obese but otherwise in healthy conditions had more ceramide. In addition, they detected higher levels of ceramides in the blood of overweight MS patients then they did with patients with normal body mass index, which showed that overabundant lipids are not only derived from damaged brain cells, but also from excessive intake of saturated fats. But how does this affect MS? The detection of ceramides inside the nucleus of blood cells and the ability of these lipids to induce epigenetic changes showed that the saturated fatty acids may have long lasting functional effects, which over time steer the Multiple Sclerosis disease to become worse. The degrading myelin can accumulate and further increase ceramics levels. Being overweight = more ceramides that are abundant in the blood, which enters the nucleus of monocytes where they change the way the genetic information is read by the cells making the proliferate, and then the increased number of monocytes can travel back to the brain and cause more damage.
This research goes along with information I’ve learned in my physio psychology class. Earlier in the semester I learned that Multiple Sclerosis is the depletion of myelin surrounding the axons. It slows conduction, and if its serve it may completely stop conduction. Therefore, I had background knowledge on what MS is. In addition, in this class we learned that hunger is a feeding behavior that provides energy for activity, fuel for the body, and material for needed growth and repair. It makes sense that GOOD and nutritious food does this for the body, and why something such as saturated fats that make people overweight or obese could be leading to a worsening in this disease. Those large amounts saturated fats that are consumed, are negative towards our body as this study showed. In addition, in my physio class were currently learning about the gut and the brain, and how they relate to one another. I learned that even other disorders are connected to the enteric system, such as Parkinson’s Disease. I learned there’s evidence that Parkinson’s starts in the enteric system, the protein alpha synuclein folds abnormally and damages healthy neurons which is present in the brain, and gut in Parkinson’s patients. As we got further into the chapter I also learned there’s some bacteria that lead to MS from the gut! Microbiome transplants from mice with M.S to those with M.S led to increased rates of M.S. Hunger, and gut bacteria all relate to this study because were learning new things that have significant roles in the progression of multiple sclerosis!
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ReplyDeleteThis topic is extremely intriguing to me because my mom suffers from MS and I have seen how it has progressed over the years. Over the past few years, she has begun to eat a lot healthier and exercise more. These changes have lessened her pain from MS and she has even begun to move better than she has before. I read an article recently that performed a meta-analysis of the relationship between diet and MS. The article stated that while there are not many ongoing studies dedicated to this topic, the studies that were done showed that when patients with MS started to eat healthier and less, their quality of life scores improved. These results are promising and could be an easy way to help maintain the pain and improve the quality of life of someone with MS.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6132382/
Last year, my uncle was diagnosed with MS. We visit him at the subsidized housing facility from time to time, and came to realize that he did not like his food. The day that I had gone, they were serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cups of jello. After I read this blog, I realized it makes a lot of sense! According to the MayoClinic, people who suffer from MS need a low-fat, unprocessed, and high fiber diet, similar to that of the Mediterranean diet. It's also recommended that they limit animal-based fats and replace them with healthy fats from fish and nuts. I have also been researching how your diet effects many things in your body including how we feel. When our body needs a vitamin or nutrient, we typically respond healthily to it. However, when we consume a lot of fried or processed food, there is usually a bloated, heavy feeling. What if he did not like the food because it made him feel weaker? A lunch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich contains processed peanut butter, processed jelly, and processed white bread. This lunch had no sufficient nutrients or vitamins. It is very possible that their other meals will suffice for this, however, according to MayoClinic, it is very important for people with MS to stay on top of their diet! Lack of vitamins and minerals can contribute to low energy levels, and can even worsen MS symptoms.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/expert-answers/multiple-sclerosis-diet/faq-20057953