Walter Gefrom – Page 5

MS Society of the UK supports research projects

February 16, 2022 by Walter Gefrom Leave a Comment

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of the United Kingdom is set to support nine separate research projects focused on MS. This is the largest fundraising program of its kind for the MS Society of the UK since the beginning of the pandemic. Walter Gefrom, MS Awareness Advocate, discusses some of the projects that will benefit from this initiative:

King’s College London

MS Society of the UK awarded King’s College London $135,000 USD (100,000 GBP) for the development of a new type of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique. MRIs are the primary way in which MS is diagnosed in patients, by detecting disease activity, demyelination and lesions within the brain and spine. This new technique hopes to detect how much myelin exists in a person’s brain, a concept which has otherwise been concretely immeasurable.

University of Oxford

Led by Jonathan Pansieri, PhD, the University of Oxford was granted $340,000 USD (250,000 GBP) for a study of the mechanisms at play in nerve loss in progressive forms of MS. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) are forms of MS that progress at a rapid rate; as such, there are less treatment options for these forms than less aggressive forms of MS, like RRMS. Most cases of RRMS develop into SPMS overtime if left untreated or if treated unsuccessfully. Each patient with MS experiences a different journey in disease progression and symptoms, regardless of his/her diagnosis.

Classic Car Charity Event

February 2, 2022 by Walter Gefrom Leave a Comment

You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind collection! And each of the 85 vintage cars up for auction will be benefiting a good cause! Walter Gefrom shares the details:

On February 4, 2022, car collectors and classic car enthusiasts in Naples are in for a treat! This Friday, 85 classic cars will be up for auction. 10% of each sale from the auction event will go towards a good cause: St. Matthew’s House, a charity committed to supporting individuals in the community experiencing any degree of homelessness, food insecurity and even addiction struggles. General admission is $100 per ticket and if you plan to bid, your admission will be $200 per ticket. That might sound hefty, but when you consider the prices of these can’t-miss vehicles, it’s truly money well spent! One vehicle Walter Gefrom is highly anticipating is a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC which will be looking for at least $600,000.

US Military Research Suggests EBV Causes MS

January 18, 2022 by Walter Gefrom Leave a Comment

A study from the United States military has confirmed a long postulated theory that the Epstein-Barr Virus triggers the development of Multiple Sclerosis. MS awareness advocate, Walter Gefrom discusses:

For people living with multiple sclerosis and the healthcare professionals who treat them, the idea that MS may be linked to EBV is nothing new. But it was not until a new study published by Harvard University that the long-standing hypothesis was proven true. The proposed information cites the fact that out of 801 MS patients, only 1 did not show symptoms of MS prior to EBV infection.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is better known as ‘the kissing disease.’ In Walter Gefrom’s personal research, he has played close attention to the link between EBV and mononucleosis. Now, there is something to be said about EBV, as well as mono, and the connection to MS. As researchers work towards creating a vaccine to protect against EBV infection, Gefrom has hope that the amount of individuals diagnosed with MS has the potential to decline in the future.

Music is good for MS: but not in the way you think

January 4, 2022 by Walter Gefrom Leave a Comment

According to a study out of Duke University, lifelong musicianship could potentially ward off the onset of neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or dementia for years. Walter Gefrom shares his thoughts on the study:

Last year, Duke University conducted a study involving musicians ranging in age from 20 to 67. Five of the participants were female; the rest were male. All of these individuals played piano or violin, beginning between the ages of 3 to 12, and continuing on to the present day. Musicians by practice and identity, these study participants are not casual hobbyists. Instead, they reportedly practice at least three to nine hours per day.

The study determined that these individuals were less likely than non-musicians to have substantial white matter brain damage. The white matter, known as myelin sheath, is what the immune system wages war on. In effect, causing MS disease progression, symptoms and all that comes with that.

It’s no secret that ‘keeping the brain active’ is vitally important for anyone. That’s especially true for individuals with MS or dementia. ‘Use it or lose it’ takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to these conditions. It’s also a huge part of why most doctors will recommend that MS patients take up a new hobby or place importance on learning new things. Keeping the brain active can make a world of difference physically and mentally. So Walter Gefrom is inclined to believe this element to Duke’s study. However, what concerns him about this study is that only five of the participants in the study were female. It is common knowledge that women are much more likely to develop MS than men. To date, women are two to three times more likely to develop MS than men.. And that number could rise. So considering this information, Gefrom believes more women should have been included in the study in order to garner a more accurate picture of what’s at play.

Multiple Sclerosis Statistics and Risk Factors

December 21, 2021 by Walter Gefrom Leave a Comment

Where is MS most prevalent? Who is more likely to be diagnosed with MS and at what age? MS awareness advocate Walter Gefrom answers these questions and more:

Prevalence of MS

Multiple Sclerosis is more prevalent in individuals based on ethnicity and region of location. North America is a hotspot of MS diagnoses, acting as home to more people with MS than any other continent. Europe is second to follow. Although an individual of any ethnicity can develop MS, caucasian people of European descent are the most likely to develop the autoimmune disease. However, the prevalence of MS diagnosis within black and hispanic communities has dramatically increased in the last few years, indicating that this previous assumption may be untrue. In the past, it was believed that North Americans of Scandinavian descent were most at risk of developing MS, though this is no longer widely accepted.

Age of Diagnosis

Onset of Multiple Sclerosis generally occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years old. The average age of diagnosis is 32. Many individuals live years and even decades without realizing that they have MS, either due to late-onset or a mild experience of symptoms.