Molecule appears to trigger the repair of brain damage caused by multiple sclerosis A University of Alberta researcher is one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the…
Fractalkine molecule showing promise for treating certain neurodegenerative disorders
An immunological molecule called fractalkine can boost the production of brain cells that produce myelin, a key factor in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, according to recent research from the University of Alberta. Myelin is an insulating layer around nerves that is gradually worn away by inflammation in multiple sclerosis and similar diseases. Without this…
Attempting to determine whether the peripheral nervous system plays a role in facial pain
A newly announced grant from the MS Society is helping researchers at the University of Alberta to better understand the underlying cause of chronic pain that afflicts an estimated half of people with multiple sclerosis, and how to eradicate it. Bradley Kerr and his team are looking in particular at the peripheral nervous system, which involves all…
University of Alberta researchers are teaming up with a precision-health innovator to develop a low-cost wearable sensor to help people suffering from chronic neurologic conditions treat their illness remotely, while reducing the frequency and costs of hospital visits. Hossein Rouhani, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering and primary investigator in the Neuromuscular Control and Biomechanics Laboratory,…