Assisting people living with foot drop associated with Multiple Sclerosis. To find out if the L300 is right for you, please contact us at 800.211.9136. www.bioness.com THE NESS L300 ™ FOOT DROP SYSTEM NESS ® , NESS L300 ™ , Intelli-Gait ™ , Intelli-Sense Gait Sensor ™ , Bioness ® , the Bioness Logo and LiveOn ™ are trademarks of Bioness Inc. | www.bioness.com | Rx Only Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you. Contraindications, Adverse Reactions and Precautions are available on-line at www.bioness.com (also available in the NESS L300 User’s Guides). SEPTEMBER 2009 YOUR GUIDE TO RESEARCH, TREATMENT, AND LIVING WELL Multiple Sclerosis
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Assisting people living with foot drop associated with Multiple Sclerosis. To find out if the L300 is right for you, please contactus at 800.211.9136.www.bioness.com
The NeSS L300™ FooT Drop SySTeM
NESS®, NESS L300™, Intelli-Gait™, Intelli-Sense Gait Sensor™, Bioness®, the Bioness Logo and LiveOn™ are trademarks of Bioness Inc. | www.bioness.com | Rx Only
Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you.Contraindications, Adverse Reactions and Precautions are available on-line at www.bioness.com (also available in the NESS L300 User’s Guides).
00895_wsj_ad_r08v01.indd 1 9/14/09 10:23 AM
september 2009 YOUR GUIDE TO REsEaRch, TREaTmEnT, anD lIvInG wEll
Multiple Sclerosis
2 an independent supplement from mediaplanet in the wall street journal
multiple sclerosis
an independent supplement from mediaplanet in the wall street journal 3
For more information about supplements in the daily press, please contact: Kayvan salmanpour, 1 646 922 1400 [email protected]
This section was written by mediaplanet and did not involve The wall street Journal or Editorial Departments.
www.mediaplanet.com
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease
of the central nervous system.
While the cause isn’t yet known,
it’s believed to be an autoimmune disease,
which means that in MS the immune sys-
temattackshealthytissueinthebody—in
this case, the myelin that surrounds and
protects the nerves. The damaged myelin
forms the scar tissue (sclerosis) that gives
the disease its name. When any part of the
myelin sheath or nerve fiber is damaged
or destroyed, nerve impulses traveling to
and from the brain and spinal cord are
distorted or interrupted, producing the
variety of symptoms that can occur. Most
commonly, these include fatigue, loss of
mobility, bladder and bowel dysfunction,
vision problems, dizziness and vertigo,
sexual dysfunction, numbness or pain,
cognitive changes and depression. Over
the course of the disease, some symp-
toms will come and go, while others may
be more lasting.
One of MS’s peculiarities is that its symp-
toms, severity and prognosis are different
in everybody. People with MS typically
experienceoneoffourdiseasecourses—
relapsing-remitting, primary-progressive,
secondary-progressive and progressive-
relapsing—eachofwhichmightbemild,
moderate or severe. The majority of peo-
ple with MS do remain ambulatory.
It is estimated that there are over two
million people worldwide who have been
diagnosed with MS. While most people are
diagnosed between the ages of 20 and
50, MS can appear in young children and
teens as well as much older adults. More-
over, two to four times as many women as
men are diagnosed with MS.
Arriving at a diagnosis of MS can be dif-
ficult and time-consuming because there
is no single symptom, physical finding or
laboratory test that can, by itself, deter-
mine if a person has this disease. Doctors
study the person’s medical history, per-
form a neurologic exam and order various
tests, such as MRIs or blood tests that can
help rule out other conditions that cause
MS-like symptoms. It is generally accepted
that, in order to make a confirmed diagno-
sis of MS, the physician must find evidence
of damage in at least two separate areas of
the central nervous system; find evidence
that the instances of damage occurred at
least a month apart; and rule out all other
possible diagnoses.
While MS is neither contagious nor
directly inherited, epidemiologists have
identified factors in the distribution of
MS around the world that may eventually
help determine what causes the disease.
These factors include gender, genetics,
age, geography and ethnic background.
A great deal of research is under way to
explore these factors.
Understanding what causes MS will be
an important step toward finding more ef-
fectivewaystotreatitand—ultimately—
cure it, or even prevent it from occurring
in the first place.
WelcomeA very successful pop-psychology book out a few years ago was called All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kin-dergarten. My version of that book would be, All I Really Need To Know About The National Ms Society I Learned On My First Bike Ms Ride.
Dear Reader,
I can’t remember a time when mul-
tiple sclerosis was not a part of my life. My
mother, Amy Zeisler, has lived with the chal-
lenges of MS for over 25 years. She struggles
with her mobility, dexterity, energy, and to
keep up her spirits every day. Through the
years, If we learned of a product, therapy,
or strategy that might help MS, she’s tried it,
often to no avail.
It is because of my mom’s struggle to keep
moving, and her dedication to stay strong
that I have developed and championed this
supplement because I know that there are
already hundreds of thousands of people
just like my mom needing to be heard.
MS is an equal ”opportunity” disease, 25
years ago it struck my mother, but tomor-
row it could strike you, me or anyone we
love. Mediaplanet gives me the opportunity
to produce reports that impact millions
each time we publish, and I am simply over-
joyed at the efforts the National MS Society
has lent to this project, as well as the pas-
sion shown by our sponsors.
When you read this report I hope it will
help and encourage all those who are di-
rectly affected by MS and inspire all readers
to join the movement to create a world free
of multiple sclerosis.
Best Regards,
Jon Silverman
#1 Fan of Mom
What Is MS? And Why Do We Need to Know?Stumbling, sudden blindness, unexpected fatigue, numbness, pain.... Every hour, every day, symptoms such as these lead doctors across the country to make a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Joyce NelsonPresident and CEO
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
one of ms’s peculiarities is that
its symptoms, severity and
prognosis are different in everybody.
any and all registered marks are the property of their
respective owners.
JOINTLY DIRECTED BY SAUD A. SADIQ, MDWE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY, MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE CARE AND RESEARCH
FOR PEOPLE WITH MS.
Please visit www.msrcny.org and www.imsmp.org for more information, or to register for the annual patient symposium,
MS 2009: Vision for the Next Decade, on Sunday, November 15.
To make a tax deductible donation to multiple sclerosis research, please visit www.msrcny.org or call 646-557-3864.
The mission of theMS Research Center of New Yorkis to apply innovative and unexplored research to find the cause and cure for MS.
The InternationalMultiple Sclerosis Management Practiceoffers unparalleled care, treatment,and expertise.
MS ad sept 09:Layout 1 9/17/09 4:27 PM Page 1
Publisher’s Note:
2 an independent supplement from mediaplanet in the wall street journal an independent supplement from mediaplanet in the wall street journal 3
multiple sclerosis
One mission : MS remission
Our mission to stop a disease like multiple sclerosis requires not just a single-minded
focus—but one that’s as relentless as the disease itself. That’s why at Biogen Idec and
Elan, we view fighting MS as not only our job at work, but as our mission in life.
best doctor they can, then trust their doctor. The patients who do poorly
tend to be the ones who make up their minds about treatment before
they came to see me.”
Patient support services are essential to people living with MS. They
provide the support to help them better understand the disease and the
resources that can help them manage it. It’s important for people who
are diagnosed with MS to try to stay positive and learn about the disease,
the MS therapies and services available.
Support may include injection training, contact with MS-trained
nurses, and educational programs. In today’s challenging economic cli-
mate, companies have support programs that may help remove cost as
a barrier to treatment. Programs may offer access to specialists who work
with health insurers to assist qualified patients in managing coverage or
co-pay programs to help make MS therapy more affordable.
It is important that healthcare professionals work together, across all
healthcare disciplines, to help provide people with MS the support and
tools they may need to maintain a long-term commitment to therapy
and their overall health.
STEPHEN KANTER Doctor of Physical Therapy, PT, ATC Supervisor of Rehabilitation International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice
SAUD A. SADIq, MDDirectorSenior Research ScientistMultiple Sclerosis ResearchCenterofNewYork
SAllYjEWEll,rNMSCNDirectorofBETAPlUS™
The National MS Society is proud to be a source of information about multiple sclerosis. Our comments are based on professional advice, published experience and expert opinion, but do not represent therapeutic recommendation or prescription. For specific information and advice, consult your personal physician. Any reference to a commercial or noncommercial product, process, service or company is not an endorsement or recommendation by the National MS
Society. The National MS Society does not endorse or recommend products, services or manufacturers. The National MS Society assumes no liability whatsoever for the use or contents of any product or service mentioned.
5
of people with MS said they experienced some limitation to their mobility77%
Mobility impairment is a major concern for patients with MS.1-3
The 2008 Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) poll, which included more than 2,400 persons with MS, revealed that4*†:
References: 1. Paltamaa J, Sarasoja T, Leskinen E, Wikström J, Mälkiä E. Measures of physical functioning predict self-reported performance in self-care, mobility, and domestic life in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88:1649-1657. 2. Martin CL, Phillips BA, Kilpatrick TJ, et al. Gait and balance impairment in early multiple sclerosis in the absence of clinical disability. Mult Scler. 2006;12:620-628. 3. Provance PG. Physical therapy in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation [clinical bulletin]. New York, NY: National Multiple Sclerosis Society; 2004. 4. A Patient Survey of Mobility and Exercise Issues Among MS Patients [poll]. Poll commissioned by: Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. February 21, 2008. 5. Heesen C, Böhm J, Reich C, Kasper J, Goebel M, Gold SM. Patient perception of bodily functions in multiple sclerosis: gait and visual function are the most valuable [first published May 27, 2008]. Mult Scler. 2008;00:1-4. doi: 10.1177/1352458508088916.
* Poll commissioned by: Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. February 21, 2008.
† 97.9% of the sample (2,471 people) were aged over 25 years. Patient breakout: 64% with RRMS; 15% with SPMS; 8% with PPMS; 5% with PRMS; 8% were listed as “unknown/don’t know/no response/benign.”
In a study of 166 patients with MS of either <5 or >15 years duration, 162 responded to a questionnaire designed to force rank 13 bodily functions based on severity and relevance to their experience. Of the 162 useable responses, 82 had MS for <5 years and 80 had MS for >15 years. The graph below shows the percentage first rank for each of the bodily functions.5