Can biofeedback-based training alleviate fatigue and vigilance performance in fatigued MS patients?

MS related fatigue might be related to autonomous nervous system (ANS) dysfunctions or to inflammation related vagal (hyper-) activation. Consequently, influencing ANS status may lead to relieve of fatigue. We used two opposite biofeedback interventions to either increase sympathetic ("self-alert training", SAT) or parasympathetic activation ("progressive muscle relaxation", PMR).

Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis is related to relapses, autonomic dysfunctions and introversion: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) might be partially due to inflammatory processes. If so, relapses should increase the fatigue level.

Methods: Two groups of MS patients participated in this study.

Capturing fatigue parameters: The impact of vagal processing in multiple sclerosis related cognitive fatigue.

Background: Causes of fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis remain elusive. Recently, we developed a model linking cognitive fatigue to inflammatory processes based on a neuroinflammatory reflex-arc instantiated by the vagus nerve. The relation between experienced autonomic dysfunctions, based on vagal processing, and cognitive fatigue is well-known, but an examination of the association of objectively measured vagal activity and cognitive fatigue is missing.

Salivary IL-1ß as an Objective Measure for Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis?

The causes of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other inflammatory disorders are not well understood. One possible cause that might explain fatigue in inflammatory disorders appears to be the immunological process itself, triggering neural activity that is experienced as fatigue. To investigate whether salivary IL-1ß concentration, associated with systemic inflammation, is related to subjective fatigue in MS.

Subjective Cognitive Fatigue and Autonomic Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Background: Cognitive fatigue and autonomic abnormalities are frequent symptoms in MS. Our model of MS-related fatigue assumes a shared neural network for cognitive fatigue and autonomic failures, i.e.

The Impact of MS-Related Cognitive Fatigue on Future Brain Parenchymal Loss and Relapse: A 17-Month Follow-up Study.

Background: Fatigue is a disabling syndrome in multiple sclerosis (MS), which may be associated with inflammation and faster disease progression.

Objective: To analyze the significance of cognitive fatigue for subsequent disease progression.

Method: We followed 46 MS patients and 14 healthy controls in a study over 17 months.