Hopes for reversing age-associated effects in MS patients

Proof of principle study suggests the age-associated decline of the remyelination process is reversible. For individuals with MS, this means that in theory regenerative therapies will work throughout the duration of the disease." - —Robin Franklin New research highlights the possibility of reversing ageing in the central nervous system for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study is published today, 06 January, in the journal Cell Stem Cell. As we get older, our bodies' ability to regenerate decreases. This is not only true for our skin (which is evident in the wrinkles that develop as we age) but also true for other tissues in the body, including the regenerative processes in the brain. For diseases which often span several decades and are affected by regenerative processes, such as MS, this can have massive implications. In multiple sclerosis, the insulating layers that protect nerve fibres in the brain, known as myelin sheaths, become damaged.