Why does it seem like every Google search I do regarding my health blames my weakened immune system for whatever is happening on a particular day? Take, for example, one simple question I innocently asked: “Why are my feet so dry?” Suddenly, I was knee-deep in results suggesting I was…
symptoms
People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are negative for typical disease-driving antibodies show several differences in clinical features compared with antibody-positive NMOSD patients, but responses to conventional treatments seem largely comparable, according to a new study. “Our findings support the utility of conventional [immune-suppressing treatments] in this…
Do you ever have moments when you stand in front of the mirror longer than you should and don’t recognize the person staring back at you? Sometimes I look at myself, and my tired eyes, stress wrinkles, and bloated face make my appearance unfamiliar. It’s a body that resembles…
People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have significantly higher levels of chitotriosidase-1 (CHIT1), a protein involved in immune and inflammatory responses, in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, a study shows. CSF CHIT1 levels were also significantly associated with NMOSD activity and severity.
Different patterns of shrinkage in the brain and spinal cord are associated with distinct clinical outcomes in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study reports. Findings suggest that NMOSD patients showing shrinkage, or atrophy, in outer brain regions are more likely to experience substantial physical disability and/or…
People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have abnormally high levels of S100A9, a protein that drives the inflammatory activity of certain immune cells, a study discovered. According to the researchers, higher S100A9 levels in the blood were significantly associated with more severe disability among patients. These findings thus…
It’s a weird feeling, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, knowing there’s a secret assassin lurking in my body. It causes me anxiety. That’s what life is like with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), which I’ve had for 16 years. Lately, though, I’ve been OK, as I…
A blood test measuring levels of the GPR37 protein may help diagnose neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), assess disease severity, and monitor treatment response, according to a new study. The GPR37 test was also able to distinguish NMOSD from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders. “Our findings…
More than one-third of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have involuntary muscle contractions or movements, while about one-quarter develop a lack of motor coordination. That’s according to a systematic review of nearly 100 published studies, which found that individuals with NMOSD may experience a wide range of…
The gut hormone GLP-1 may contribute to brain inflammation in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), leading to episodes of uncontrollable nausea, vomiting, or hiccups — a condition known as area postrema syndrome (APS), a new study suggests. These findings raise a crucial question about the use of…
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