Vitality - Vital News for MSWA Members - February 2018.

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February 2018

Hello and welcome to February’s e-newsletter.

In this edition, learn about the latest research including low-cost alternatives when monitoring MS activity, links between a healthy diet and MS, and how cholesterol crystals may prevent regeneration in the central nervous system.

Then, find out about MSWA’s exciting news, and what events are happening across the community.

Until the next Vitality, take care!

Here we bring you brief summaries on research updates found online from all around the world.

Blood test could provide low-cost alternative to MRI for monitoring activity in MS

A blood test to monitor a nerve protein in the blood of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may help predict whether disease activity is flaring up, according to a study published in the November 29, 2017 online issue of Neurology Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The nerve protein, called neurofilament light chain, is a component of nerve cells and can be detected in the blood stream and spinal fluid when nerve cells die.

Cholesterol crystals prevent regeneration in central nervous system

A team led by Prof. Mikael Simons from the Technical University of Munich has now published a possible explanation in the journal Science: Fat derived from myelin, which is not carried away rapidly enough by phagocytes can trigger chronic inflammation that in turn impedes regeneration. Furthermore, in a second publication, Simons team describes the discovery of novel cell type, which appears only when a myelin sheath is being created.

"Myelin contains a very high amount of cholesterol," explains Prof. Simons. "When myelin is destroyed, the cholesterol released has to be removed from the tissue. This is performed by microglia and macrophages, also referred to as phagocytes. They take up the damaged myelin, digest it and transport the non-digestible remainder, such as cholesterol, out of the cell by transport molecules. However, if too much cholesterol accumulates in the cell, cholesterol can form needle-shaped crystals, which causes damage to the cell.”

muMS Group

Are you expecting a baby in 2018? Have a new baby now? Or children under 13?

MSWA invites you to join our mothers living with MS group. Newborns are welcome.

The sessions will provide an opportunity to:

Develop friendships with others living in/entering a similar stage of life
Share and discuss concerns, thoughts and feelings
Enjoy some well-deserved time away from your parenting role
Learn more about MS and how MSWA can support/assist you
Learn new information related to pregnancy and parenting whilst living with MS

Dates: 6 February, 20 March, 8 May
Time: Tuesday 10am - 12pm
Location: Admin Meeting Room - Heathcote Reserve 58 Duncraig Rd, Applecross
RSVP: RSVP with your expression of interest by Thursday, 26 January 2018

Contact: Jean Hudson Contact: Liesl Murdoch
Email: jean.hudson@mswa.org.au or Email: liesl.murdoch@mswa.org.au
Mobile: 0447 846 500 Mobile: 0447 810 647

Places are limited! Tea and coffee will be provided.

South Metro and Peel Carer Support Group

Are you caring for a loved one?

The role of being a carer can be challenging and stressful. Monthly support groups are being offered to people living in the community, who identify as a carer of someone diagnosed with MS. Sessions are free to carers of MSWA Members, and will be held in Rockingham.

Open to carers living from Bibra Lake to the Peel region.

What the group offers:

Connect with others for practical and emotional support
Obtain support and meet others in a similar situation
Receive MS education and information
Share ideas, management tips and techniques
Explore coping with uncomfortable emotions
Learn coping strategies and techniques such as stress management and relaxation

Places are limited!

When: Thursday, 1 February
Location: Rockingham
RSVP: RSVP with your expression of interest by Wednesday, 23 January 2018

Contact: Eve Parsons (Counsellor) Contact: Alyson Yearsley (Counsellor)
Email: eve.parsons@mswa.org.au or Email: alyson.yearsley@mswa.org.au
Mobile: 0427 124 391 Mobile: 0439 790 490

Currambine Carer Support Group

Are you caring for a loved one?

What the group offers:

Connect with others for practical and emotional support
Obtain support and meet others in a similar situation
Receive MS education and information
Share ideas, management tips and techniques
Explore coping with uncomfortable emotions
Learn coping strategies and techniques such as stress management and relaxation

Places are limited!

When: Thursday, 1 February
Location: Currambine
RSVP: RSVP with your expression of interest by Wednesday, 23 January 2018

Contact: Karen Brown (Counsellor) Contact: Liesl Murdoch (Counsellor)
Email: karen.brown@mswa.org.au or Email: liesl.murdoch@mswa.org.au
Phone: 9365 4808 Phone: 9365 4801

Voice Therapy Group

This year MSWA Speech Therapists will be running a voice therapy group. If you are experiencing any of the following voice difficulties, you may be interested in attending.

Examples of voice difficulties:

Soft voice/difficulty projecting their voice
Rough/strained/hoarse sounding voice
Difficulty with pitch/volume
Running out of breath when speaking
Increased vocal effort when speaking
Please email your expressions of interest to Speech Pathology.

Contact: Stephanie Perkov
Phone: 9365 4872
Email: stephanie.perkov@mswa.org.au

Focus on Ability Short Film Festival

Take part in the 10th Annual Focus on Ability short film festival. The underlying theme of your entry should be focus on Ability.

This festival asks film makers to 'Focus on the Ability' of people with a disability and tell a story on film for the world to view.

The 2018 festival is set to be the biggest yet, and the generous sponsors have donated over $150,000 worth of cash and prizes to encourage film makers and people with a disability to tell their stories.

Date: Friday, 1 June 2018, entries close
Find out more: Focus on Ability.

WA researcher finds UV delays onset of MS

In a world-first, a Perth Professor has delayed the development of MS in high-risk individuals using narrowband UVB treatment, something used to treat the skin condition psoriasis. Trials conducted by Professor Prue Hart found that in 7 out of 10 people, with a single episode of MS who were treated with UVB, the progression of their MS was halted.

Online Research Survey Invitiation - University of Leicester

Researcher and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Damien Appleton, is based in the UK and is conducting a survey on men caring for, or supporting people with MS.

This research is asking male carers to complete a series of online questionnaires investigating levels of social support, carer burden, willingness to seek help and attributes related to gender role.