Medical: New Research MS

Carolyn Murray/Count on 2 News at 5, 6, & 11pm
Published: July 14, 2008

Multiple Sclerosis

When watching channel 2 in the early afternoon you have probably heard talk show host, Montel Williams talk about his personal battle with MS, or Multiple Scleoris.  Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the name for a condition which affects communication within the central nervous system. The nerve fibers in the central nervous system are covered with a fatty sheath, called myelin. Normally, the myelin acts as a layer of protection and insulin for the nerves, like the outer covering of an electrical cord. For an unknown reason, the immune system attacks the myelin. This causes breaks in the covering and allows short-circuits to occur along the nerve transmission route. The damaged areas of myelin are replaced by scar tissue, which can permanently affect nerve signaling.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates about 400,000 Americans have MS. The condition affects twice as many women as men. Most patients develop their first symptoms between 20 and 50. Some of the most common signs include: blurred or double vision, weakness, extreme fatigue, problems with coordination and balance, memory impairment, difficulties with concentration, numbness or tingling, pain and speech problems. Symptoms may come and go. Many patients experience distinct periods of exacerbation of symptoms followed by a remission and partial or complete recovery. Others may have progressive symptoms.

Studying the Effect of Heat on MS
Scientists have found that heat can aggravate MS symptoms in some people. Overheating can occur from warm temperatures or during exercise or exertion. Patients who are sensitive to heat often have vision problems. This phenomenon is called internuclear ophthalmoparesis (INO).

Scott Davis, Ph.D., Neurology Professor/Researcher at UT Southwestern, says INO causes a slowing of horizontal eye movements. Thus, the effect can be recorded by taking pictures of the eyes. But he wanted to find out how precisely INO measurements correlate with body temperature in MS patients. Three groups of patients were studied - (1) MS patients with INO, (2) MS patients without INO and (3) healthy control subjects without MS or INO.

Each participant wore a special body suit with tubes for water circulation. The temperature of the circulating water could be increased or decreased to simulate a warm or cool environment. In addition, researchers used a swallowable pill-like thermometer to measure core-body temperature and an infrared light/camera to track eye movements.

The study found as temperatures increased, eye tracking was less coordinated in MS patients with INO. When the body was cooled, eye tracking was more coordinated.

Davis says eye movement testing may be a useful way to determine heat sensitivity in patients with MS. That’s important because eye tracking abnormalities may also be an indication of the degree of other MS symptoms that may be exacerbated by heat. The next phase of the study is to use the eye-tracking test to measure the effects of a medication on heat-related symptoms.