disability

It had to be something special for me to break my silence on X (formerly known as Twitter). I had to share my support for actress Christina Applegate after she appeared at this year’s Emmy Awards in mid-January. Applegate has multiple sclerosis (MS), which has many similarities…

Tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory medication used off-label for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), can help prevent relapses (flare-ups) and ease disability while being generally safe, according to a meta-analysis. The study, “Tocilizumab treatment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Updated meta-analysis of efficacy and safety,” was published in the journal…

Second in a series on visiting Disney World with a disability. Read part one. Big crowds make me nervous. Should someone bump into me, I can easily lose my balance. And the risk of infection weighs heavily on me, given my weakened immune system. A nearby sneeze triggers…

First in a series. Christmas, a bustling time for all, becomes particularly challenging for patients like me who have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), as it can take us out of our routine and add unwanted stress. One holiday memory stands out and is yet to be beat:…

Children don’t see race, age, wealth, weight, or disability, we’re told. Instead, they look for unconditional love. I believe that’s true until a certain point; then their innocence is forever lost. My 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, has always been a generous person. Even when she began to grow up and realize…

Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and resulting disability can make it hard to find and keep employment, according to a small U.S. study that nonetheless involved patients from more than a dozen states. Group discussions with 20 people with the rare autoimmune disease — of varying races…

When was the last time you Googled your name? When I do it, I find my column here at Neuromyelitis News. My work as a post-secondary teacher is rewarding, but it’s also important to demonstrate my expertise. That’s why many of my students search for my professional profile…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory protein AIMP1 in the bloodstream, and higher levels seem to correlate with worse disability, a study showed. These AIMP1 levels dropped markedly after anti-inflammatory therapy, but still remained higher among patients in remission than in people…

A young woman had a rebound of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) toward the end of her pregnancy, for which she underwent plasma exchange and took steroids, according to a report from researchers in the U.S. Because treatment with plasma exchange and steroids did not work well enough, the…

Brain age gap (BAG) — the difference between calendar age and predicted brain age as determined by MRI scans — was significant in adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and may predict disability in patients, a study found. The BAG was even greater in people with the related…