endMS National Training Program
Here are the summaries of the 2023-2024 SPRINT team projects:
What causes comorbidities in MS?
SPRINTers: Katherine Cardwell, Mona Hejazi and Megan Krysak
SPRINT mentor: Dr. Kaarina Kowalec
Lay summary: People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) report health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression more often than the public. These secondary health conditions, called comorbidities, are a significant health risk for people living with MS; however, their causes are not known. We wanted to answer: What causes comorbidities in MS? If we know what causes comorbidities then this would help inform people with MS about conditions that they should be aware of and provide better treatment. To find out why people with MS have a higher rate of comorbidities than the public, we looked at existing research studies and summarized their findings. After a careful search of a major research database, 84 studies ended up being included in our results. Three members of our research team put together the findings of each article and ensured no important articles were missed in the search. Overall, we found that certain comorbidities (like Crohn’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and some cancers) occur often with MS because they share similar genetics. This means the same genetic factor that is related to MS was also related to these comorbid conditions. Some studies also found that changes in the brain caused by MS led to other conditions like depression and epilepsy. Symptoms of MS, like pain and fatigue, were commonly linked with depression and anxiety, which means that these symptoms may lead to the development of depression and anxiety. Lastly, the use of MS disease modifying therapies were commonly tied to people with MS having headaches and some cancers. Our findings show that there are many possible ways that MS may be connected to comorbidities. Understanding the underlying causes of comorbidity in MS will allow for better recognition and treatment of comorbid conditions for people with MS. As symptoms of MS are wide reaching and can change, this project may help people with MS and their healthcare providers figure out if their symptoms are MS-related or from other diseases. Seeking diagnosis and treatment of these conditions earlier ultimately serves to improve the health and quality of life of individuals living with MS.
Navigating B Cell Depleting Therapies: An Accessible Guide for People with MS
SPRINTers: Dr. Leah Hohman, Risavarshni Thevakumaran,
Darrin Wijeyaratnam
SPRINT mentor: Dr. Hedwich Kuipers
Lay Summary: Finding the right treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or has been living with MS for a while, it is important to feel informed and confident when making decisions about treatment. B cell depleting therapies (BCDTs) represent one option for treating MS. These therapies have been available in Canada since 2018 and are effective for many people with MS (PwMS). BCDTs work by targeting and removing B cells (a type of white blood cell) from the body. This helps slow down the disease, reduce symptoms, and lower the chances of relapse. However, information about these therapies is often too technical, hard to find, or incomplete. To help with this, we created a guide that explains BCDTs in clear, accessible language. The guide covers three key areas: 1) how the therapies work, 2) the benefits and risks, and 3) how they might impact daily life. We used the "Knowledge-to-Action" framework, which helped us move from gathering information to creating a useful web-based tool for the MS community. We collected material from research papers and educational websites and collaborated closely with PwMS, doctors, and others in the MS community to make sure our guide is easy to understand. Our goal is to give PwMS the knowledge they need to feel more confident when discussing treatment options with their healthcare team, as well as other PwMS and their support networks.
Building the Bridge Between Bench and Bedside
SPRINTers: Rochelle Benoit, Ateyeh Soroush, Kaihim Wong
SPRINT Mentor: Dr. Jordan Warford
Lay Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Roughly 2.8 million people worldwide have MS. Common MS symptoms can be fatigue, problems with the eyes and muscle stiffness. However, each person experiences MS differently. Therefore, treating MS and developing patient-specific treatments can be challenging. New MS research helps overcome this problem. However, MS researchers and the healthcare professionals who work directly to treat and help people living with MS do not always work together. To improve care for people with MS, we worked to understand the gap between healthcare professionals (e.g., neurologists, physical therapists, psychologists, etc.) and researchers, and then developed a set of recommendations to connect them with each other. Over the past year, we designed and distributed a survey limited to MS neurologists and MS researchers across Canada. We received 40 responses. The results highlighted the importance of sharing information to support patient treatment. The results also revealed that neurologists are particularly interested in information about laboratory tests and experimental research. The survey results suggest that a healthcare provider-researcher relationship would help patient care. Advanced research technologies in clinical settings could help obtain information that impacts the MS population. Our suggested next step in improving patient care is developing a platform where researchers and healthcare providers could share relevant health and data findings of consent-giving participants with MS. We believe these suggestions could help people with MS get the best care possible.