Earlier Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Diagnosis May Be Possible Through New Detection Method

German scientists at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitaet in Bonn, Germany, may have discovered a method for the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This would allow for patient treatment to begin earlier than through conventional diagnostic methods. Early treatment is crucial to delay the more debilitating phases of this non-curable disease as long as possible.

MS is nowadays often categorized as an autoimmune disease, where the body's own immune system attacks the nervous system. However, the exact cause of the disease is still undetermined. The chronic and inflammatory disease affects the central nervous system. The symptoms can be debilitating. They range from sensual and visual problems to muscle weakness, speech impairment, impaired mobility, and sometimes even death. The symptoms can occur gradually, but more often in phases. Between phases some of the symptoms may even disappear. However, usually the neurological problems remain permanently. While MS is not curable, there are several treatment methods available to slow down the progression of the disease

The German researchers used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for their diagnostic quest. This allowed them to detect biochemical changes in the metabolites of the brain. The MS attack on the central nervous system begins with the gradual degeneration of the myelin sheath, which is a fatty layer around the neurons. The neurons carry information signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Without the fatty layer the neurons get damaged and begin to misfire the electric signal. The neurons can even die off due to a chronic inflammatory process that causes the molecules in the brain to shift. One of the substances that can change is N-Acetyl-Aspartat (tNAA). Healthy neurons contain a great amount of tNAA. However, damaged neurons show a significant loss of this particular substance. The tNAA-concentration can be measured through magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).