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MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

theguardian.com

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Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#91

Post by rikelmens »

L-carnosine is VERY promising for MS treatment. It's been found that carnosine levels are significantly decreased in both animal MS models and humans with MS. [1]

This [2] completed (results pending) small study will try to verify if supplementing with carnosine will help slow down the progress of or even reverse MS.

Unofficially, I've heard it was a great success. But let's wait.

Edit: Just found another completed study [3]

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29454153/ [2] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03995810 [3] https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(19)32236-1/fu...

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#92

Post by memossy »

GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

I will try to get back to this thread with some resources but I would recommend as you are in the UK to look into clemastine/tavegil which you can get without prescription (noted in the article as about to be trialled with metformin) due to its action on P2X7 receptors/Schwann cells.

The ReBUILD doses were rather high though (10 tabs a day!). 1 tab would probably do it over a few months.

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#93

Post by melling »

aplummer wrote: post #89
melling wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, that wouldn’t be a good way to address basic medical research for some sort of Manhattan project. To make great progress over a decade, we’d need to do something else to advance medical science.

The thing is honestly, we make incredible progress every decade. What's important is doing it carefully, correctly, and investing in the right areas to make real positive change (less viagra and hair loss probably). Just a decade ago, Hepatitis C wasn't curable in nearly 100% of patients (in 12 weeks with limited side effects!). It isn't great news cycle content to focus on rehashing the great achievements we have re…

Here’s the story about the accidental discovery of Viagra.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jul/11/from-vi...

For some reason, every time this discussion happens, people think we spend a lot of research money on hair loss and impotence drugs.

Next, move onto how much care for people with Alzheimer’s is costing:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alzheimers-costs-americans-277-...

It would be cheaper to invest into medical research...

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#94

Post by trentnix »

aplummer wrote: post #54
melling wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Just 20 years ago..." Personally, when people think we are making good progress on something, I’m reminded of these words: “Before this decade is out...” Sure, great and rapid progress might require a couple percent of US GDP, and a million people working on a problem, but advancing medical research a few decades in the next 10 years, would benefit everyone.

The thing about clinical trials, is there is a minimum time it takes to run one. You can up concurrency but it only gets you so far - you really need to know the long term impact before you can iterate much.

As Brooks said (paraphrasing), "you can't make a baby in one month with nine women".

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#95

Post by gardenfelder »

GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=metformin+AND+stem+cel...

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#96

Post by GordonS »

gardenfelder wrote: post #95
GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=metformin+AND+stem+cel...

I know how to use Google Scholar etc; I was hoping for specific suggestions.

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#97

Post by medical_alt »

GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

I have chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (and several other chronic conditions) that have left me in near-constant pain (and at times with mobility issues, particularly the first year). It was initially thought to be possibly autoimmune in nature (I have two family members with 1 or more autoimmune diseases), but it was never confirmed.

I've been told that IvIG isn't even a good option for me, and in any case, I'm concerned about the at times severe side effects.

There are so many people around the world suffering from various forms of neuropathy, yet it seems to get relatively little attention. Some people are in wheelchairs, some in constant and severe pain, others lose control of their bladder or bowels, and some experience all of the above. Many millions of people worldwide. It seems like there would be a greater effort to come up with new therapeutics. At the very least, it's a huge market.

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#98

Post by dmclamb »

chime wrote: post #64

> While bexarotene will not go into phase 3 trials for MS, the finding that the nervous system can be stimulated to resheath damaged neurons has given scientists fresh hopes for another trial they hope to launch later this year. That trial will monitor the effects of the diabetes drug metformin along with clemastine, an antihistamine, a combination that Prof Robin Franklin at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Inst…

I'm RRMS, year three on Ocrevus. I wish your wife well. MS is a cruel disease.

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#99

Post by medical_alt »

memossy wrote: post #92
GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

I will try to get back to this thread with some resources but I would recommend as you are in the UK to look into clemastine/tavegil which you can get without prescription (noted in the article as about to be trialled with metformin) due to its action on P2X7 receptors/Schwann cells. The ReBUILD doses were rather high though (10 tabs a day!). 1 tab would probably do it over a few months.

That's interesting. Just take care with that. There's some epidemiological evidence that anticholenergics like clemastine may possibly contribute to dementia:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-d...

The data suggest correlation, not necessarily causation, but at the least I'd carefully investigate the risks before taking any anticholergic in such high doses. I do understand (with my own chronic health issues) that even with the risk of dementia later on, it may still be a possibility, depending on the severity of current symptoms.

Re: MS treatment a step closer after drug shown to repair nerve coating

#100

Post by GordonS »

memossy wrote: post #92
GordonS wrote: post #74

> Metformin seems to work by rejuvenating stem cells in the central nervous system, which then go on to become myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes. These churn out fresh myelin to replace that destroyed by MS I have small fibre neuropathy, which has left me with constant pain. There are basically no treatments available beyond pain control, except for maybe IVIG treatments (there have been some papers show…

I will try to get back to this thread with some resources but I would recommend as you are in the UK to look into clemastine/tavegil which you can get without prescription (noted in the article as about to be trialled with metformin) due to its action on P2X7 receptors/Schwann cells. The ReBUILD doses were rather high though (10 tabs a day!). 1 tab would probably do it over a few months.

> look into clemastine/tavegil

Thanks, I've never even heard of clemastine, and it's rare to find anything notable that doesn't require a prescription in the UK! I already take another gen 1 antihistamine at night (they are very sedating for me), so I guess could swap it for clemastine.

Now all I need to do is convince someone to give me a prescription for metformin...

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