The activity of an immune-regulating protein is significantly lower just before or during a relapse in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a recent study has found. This discovery could lead to new ways to monitor disease activity and develop treatments. The protein, called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor…
symptoms
Nearly all adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) experience headaches, especially migraines, a single-center study in Iran suggests. The presence of abnormalities in brain MRI scans and the use of the immunosuppressive therapy rituximab were each linked to an increased chance of new or worsening headaches after a…
As wildfires rage across Ontario, Canada, and neighboring provinces, the skies over Toronto have turned hazy and the air has become a silent threat. For most, this means itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. But for those of us living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), the…
People diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who lose their jobs or cut back on their hours likely contend with vision loss, worsening pain, the use of walking aids, and frequent fatigue or depressed mood, an international study reports. “Developing a robust set of disability guidelines to protect…
Most people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have impaired sleep quality and architecture — an individual’s cyclical sleep pattern, involving different stages — relative to healthy people, according to a new study from researchers in India. NMOSD patients were also found to have reductions in the volume of…
People who develop neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at 50 years or older are significantly more likely to experience worse recovery from relapses and faster disability progression than those with early-onset disease, a study in Germany showed. These increased risks were seen despite comparable relapse rates, more intensive relapse…
Smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of residual disability from onset attack in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients with antibodies against the AQP4 protein, a new study showed. Similar results were seen for the presence of nonsmoking vascular risk factors (VRF) such as high blood pressure,…
The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, a blood inflammatory marker that can be calculated based on the results of a simple blood test, may be used as a biomarker of disability severity in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a small study showed. Researchers identified four other ratios, calculated based on…
There’s a lot of things that people don’t see about me. I deal with fatigue, pain, and other unpredictable symptoms that come with having neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Even the simplest tasks can require monumental effort to complete. That’s why “bed rotting,” as it’s called, has become an…
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is largely known for its effect on the central nervous system, but the associated skin issues are often overlooked. For those of us living with NMOSD, the skin can become a silent messenger, reflecting the internal battle happening within our body. From goose…