Regular Vaccines Advised With Multiple Sclerosis

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 28, 2019 -- If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), you can and should receive recommended vaccinations -- including annual flu shots, a new American Academy of Neurology guideline says.

"We reviewed all of the available evidence, and for people with MS, preventing infections through vaccine use is a key part of medical care," said guideline lead author Dr. Mauricio Farez.

For Medicare Patients, Costs of MS Drugs Rise Sevenfold Over 10 Years

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 28, 2019 -- Medicare patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) saw their medication costs soar by more than sevenfold over a decade, a new study finds.

It's no secret that the costs of MS drugs have skyrocketed in recent years. When the first so-called disease-modifying drugs were approved starting in the 1990s, they cost roughly $8,000 to $11,000 per year, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Scans Reveal 'Smoldering' Spots in Brains Touched by MS

TUESDAY, Aug. 13, 2019 -- "Smoldering" spots in the brains of multiple sclerosis patients may signal more aggressive and disabling forms of the disease, researchers report.

Their finding may help test the effectiveness of new treatments for these types of MS.

Surgery Not a Relapse Risk for MS Patients

FRIDAY, July 26, 2019 -- Surgery is safe for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds.

"The idea that patients with MS might be at an increased risk of relapse following surgery isn't necessarily the case, so we need to be careful delaying important surgeries," said study first author Dr. Lindsey De Lott. She is an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor.