Key Highlights
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In a large clinical trial of over 940 people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), researchers found that standard MRI measures of brain volume loss and lesion buildup were only weakly and inconsistently linked to actual physical or cognitive decline over two years.
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This finding challenges the common use of brain scans as a primary indicator of disease progression in PPMS trials, suggesting that future research should rely more on direct measures of how a patient is doing day-to-day rather than on imaging alone.
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A comprehensive review of dozens of studies found that key psychological factors, such as a person’s belief in their ability to manage their condition (self-efficacy), along with healthy lifestyle habits like exercise and a Mediterranean diet, are strongly linked to less disability and better physical function in people living with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
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This research shifts the focus from what goes wrong in chronic pain to what can go right, highlighting “protective factors” that could be used to develop new, strength-based treatments and rehabilitation programs rather than just focusing on deficits.
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A new study on moderate-to-advanced Dementia with Lewy bodies reveals that fluctuating cognition—where a person’s mental abilities shift between being clear and confused—significantly impacts both the patient’s and their caregiver’s quality of life, even more so than some other core symptoms.
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These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and managing cognitive fluctuations as a key target for therapies aimed at reducing the overall neuropsychiatric burden and improving daily life for those living with this challenging form of dementia.
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