Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

In summer 2014, 22-year-old Connor Judge was working as a landscaper when he experienced unusual pain in his legs and back. At first, the symptoms were presumed to be related to his landscaping work; visits to a few general practitioners were unremarkable. Then, on Aug. 29,…

An improved understanding of the biological processes that drive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has led to treatment advancements in recent years. In a presentation at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2021, Sean Pittock, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Center for…

In most people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), autoantibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4) coordinate a complex series of immune activities that drive the disease. Better understanding of these disease-causing mechanisms may help in efforts to find new treatments for NMOSD patients. These mechanisms were explained in the lecture, “…

At an educational seminar next month, experts will discuss advances in the diagnosis and care of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting the NMOSD community.  Sponsored by the…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with difficulty swallowing are more likely to have clinical signs of brain involvement and more extensive disability, a small study suggests. Measures of a patient’s difficulty with swallowing could be used to indirectly assess brain involvement in NMOSD and the related disorder…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have similar knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 as the overall population, an Iranian study suggests. The findings highlight several areas where better education about COVID-19 is warranted, the researchers wrote. Their study, “Assessment of mental health, knowledge, and attitude…