Multiple sclerosis is a condition that can strike a person at any age. As Pittsburgh residents affected by this condition know, the long-term effects of the illness can be very difficult to handle. As the disease progresses, simple neurological functions begin to fade, which can makes mobility a challenge.
As individuals determine their options after receiving an MS diagnosis, they may consider applying for disability benefits in order to help cover basic expenses. Multiple sclerosis is among the illnesses covered by the Social Security Disability program. However, if a person doesn't provide adequate medical documentation, benefits may be denied. This is why it may be helpful to consult with an SSD attorney to make sure the application or appeals process is handled carefully.
Although there is still no cure for MS, medical researchers recently developed a treatment that may offer significant promise. Neurological function diminishes with multiple sclerosis because the body attacks the myelin covering that surrounds brain and other neural tissues. Traditional treatments involve suppressing all immune response, but this obviously makes individuals susceptible to infection and other illnesses. A new treatment, however, specifically targets the body's response to myelin.
As the body responds at a slower rate to myelin, the symptoms of MS don't progress quite as fast as they would without treatment. In fact, initial clinical trials found that this new treatment decreased the "body’s attacks on myelin by 50 to 75 percent." The hope is that these kind of advancements will continue to emerge, which will help provide relief to MS patients and their loved ones.
Source: Fox News, "Medical breakthrough for multiple sclerosis sufferers," Amanda Woerner, June 6, 2013