Publications by authors named "Glanz B"
Background: Cognitive impairment occurs frequently in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) at some point in the course of the disease. However, not all PwMS develop cognitive difficulties suggesting a role for important moderating factors. We examined baseline predictors of cross-sectional and longitudinal change in cognitive performance in PwMS.
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- GFAP is a protein expressed in astrocytes that may serve as a biomarker for non-active progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
- A study with 741 MS patients found that serum GFAP levels predict progression independent of relapse activity and future needs for mobility aids.
- The results indicate that baseline GFAP levels are more useful for predicting progression than changes over time, with no correlation found between GFAP and cognitive dysfunction or fatigue.
Article Synopsis
- Stigma refers to negative perceptions linked to certain characteristics or conditions, often impacting individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) by reinforcing stereotypes and highlighting their differences from societal norms.
- The presence of stigma in people with MS is influenced by factors like disease duration, age, onset, and course, as well as psychological issues such as depression and anxiety, ultimately affecting their quality of life.
- The article emphasizes the need for clearer definitions of different stigma types (anticipated, experienced, internalized) and evaluates seven commonly used stigma measurement tools, suggesting that improved understanding could lead to better interventions and enhance the quality of life for those with MS.
Article Synopsis
- A report studied how a special imaging test called 18 F-PBR06-PET can help find signs of brain cell problems in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- The study looked at 30 scans from 22 MS patients and compared their results with 8 healthy people to see how effective different treatments were.
- Results showed MS patients had higher brain activity scores than healthy people, and even though stronger treatments helped reduce this activity, it still wasn't completely normal, linking it to their symptoms and brain changes.
Increasing Neurofilament and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein After Treatment Discontinuation Predicts Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity.
Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- This study examines the risks associated with discontinuing treatment in stable multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using serum biomarkers (sNfL and sGFAP) to assess subclinical disease activity.
- The observational research involved 78 patients who stopped treatment after being disease-free for over 2 years, and their serum samples were analyzed to evaluate changes in disease activity through neurologic exams and MRI scans.
- Results indicated that higher levels of sNfL after stopping treatment correlated with increased risk of confirmed disability worsening and new MRI activity, suggesting that these biomarkers might aid in predicting disease progression post-treatment.
Association between PROMIS10, SF-36 and NeuroQoL in persons with multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how well the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Scale v1.1-Global Health (PROMIS-10) correlates with longer PRO measures like SF-36 and Neuro-QoL in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Strong correlations were found between PROMIS-10 and SF-36 domains, indicating effective measurement of similar constructs, especially in physical and mental health components.
- PROMIS-10 scores also showed a stronger relationship with physical disability status (EDSS) compared to mental health, suggesting physical health impacts are more notable in MS patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how well serum biomarkers, specifically neurofilament light (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP), can detect contrast-enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in multiple sclerosis patients.
- The research involved 557 patients, analyzing their MRI results and biomarker levels, finding that high levels of sNfL are somewhat effective at predicting the presence of MRI lesions, particularly in younger patients.
- Though elevated sNfL levels can indicate a likelihood of lesions, low levels do not eliminate the necessity for MRI scans for accurate diagnosis.
Background: Nearly 1 million Americans are living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 30-50% will experience memory dysfunction. It remains unclear whether this memory dysfunction is due to overall white matter lesion burden or damage to specific neuroanatomical structures. Here we test if MS memory dysfunction is associated with white matter lesions to a specific brain circuit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Early risk-stratification in multiple sclerosis (MS) may impact treatment decisions. Current predictive models have identified that clinical and imaging characteristics of aggressive disease are associated with worse long-term outcomes. Serum biomarkers, neurofilament (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP), reflect subclinical disease activity through separate pathological processes and may contribute to predictive models of clinical and MRI outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is limited knowledge about T cell responses in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) after 3 doses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine.
Objectives: Assess the SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody and T cell responses in MS patients and healthy controls (HCs) after 2 doses (2-vax) and 3 doses (3-vax) of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.
Methods: We studied seroconversion rates and T cell responses by flow cytometry in HC and MS patients on fingolimod or ocrelizumab.
Sexual problems in MS: Sex differences and their impact on quality of life.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
June 2023
Background: Low sexual function and satisfaction are common problems among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), but the literature on which patient variables are associated with these issues is inconsistent.
Objective: To investigate the associations between sexual function and satisfaction in PwMS with clinical, demographic, and patient-reported quality of life (QOL) measures and determine if sex differences exist.
Methods: This analysis includes PwMS enrolled in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (CLIMB), who completed patient-reported outcome measures: Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).
Background And Purpose: Commonly used fatigue-lowering medications have not been proven effective in treating multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue. A neuroanatomical basis for treatment-resistant fatigue in MS has not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between brain diffusion abnormality patterns and resistance to fatigue-lowering treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cognitive decline is inadequately captured by the standard neurological examination. Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) are biomarkers of neuronal damage and astrocytic reactivity that may offer an accessible measure of the multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology linked to cognitive decline.
Objective: To investigate the association of sNfL and sGFAP with cognitive decline in MS patients at high risk for progressive pathology.
Article Synopsis
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a deadly neurodegenerative disease linked to protein aggregation and shares similarities with Parkinson's disease; its complexity and fast progression make drug development challenging.
- Researchers have created a cohort of 69 carefully assessed MSA patients and are recruiting them into a unique clinical trial setup that tracks individual patient progress over time.
- The study includes extensive patient phenotyping, collection of biospecimens, and development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to enhance understanding of MSA and improve chances of successful therapies through personalized medicine.
Background: Sexual and physical violence against disabled individuals is widespread and linked to negative public health and social outcomes. The real-world prevalence of abuse in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been well studied.
Objectives: To explore abuse prevalence in a real-world cohort of females with MS attending an academic MS Center.
Younger age at multiple sclerosis onset is associated with worse outcomes at age 50.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
August 2022
Article Synopsis
- Older people tend to do worse with multiple sclerosis (MS) if they had symptoms start at a younger age.
- The study looked at 661 MS patients over 10 years and found that those with earlier symptoms had more severe problems at age 50, like worse disability scores and higher chances of job loss.
- It suggests doctors should pay attention to a patient's age when their MS started, as it can help predict how serious the disease might get in the future.
Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) on some disease modifying therapies (DMTs), particularly anti-CD20 and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) modulators, are at increased risk of severe Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) and death. COVID-19 vaccinations are effective in preventing infection and severe disease, but humoral response to vaccination and outcomes of COVID-19 infection after vaccination in MS patients on DMTs remain less understood.
Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, patients enrolled in the CLIMB (Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women's Hospital) study and biorepository who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and had SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody (anti-SARS-CoV-2 S Roche-Elecsys) testing were identified and compared to healthy controls.
Background: Higher levels of total physical activity (PA) are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The benefits of PA across the activity continuum have not been well-studied. The goal of this study was to compare the associations between total PA, strenuous PA, moderate PA, and mild PA and HRQOL in a large cohort of individuals with MS using both generic and neurologic disease-specific questionnaires.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective of this study was to identify predictors in common between different clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) by comparing predictive models.
Methods: We analyzed 704 patients from our center seen at MS onset, measuring 37 baseline demographic, clinical, treatment, and MRI predictors, and 10-year outcomes. Our primary aim was identifying predictors in common among clinical outcomes: aggressive MS, benign MS, and secondary-progressive (SP)MS.
Serum NfL levels in the first five years predict 10-year thalamic fraction in patients with MS.
Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin
January 2022
Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels are associated with relapses, MRI lesions, and brain volume in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objective: To explore the value of early serum neurofilament light (sNfL) measures in prognosticating 10-year regional brain volumes in MS.
Methods: Patients with MS enrolled in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigations in MS at Brigham and Women's Hospital (CLIMB) study within five years of disease onset who had annual blood samples from years 1-10 (n = 91) were studied.
Purpose: To investigate patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).
Methods: Subjects enrolled in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women's Hospital (CLIMB) who completed PRO measures in the RRMS and SPMS phases were identified (n = 52). The PRO measures were Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD).
Background: Positive psychology (PP) uses targeted activities to increase the frequency and intensity of positive feelings and may improve overall well-being in medically ill populations. In this phase 1 randomized controlled trial, we examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of a 5-week, telephone-delivered PP intervention for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: Participants were randomized 1:1 to a 5-week at-home PP intervention or a waitlist control condition.
Background: Although recovery from relapses in MS appears to contribute to disability, it has largely been ignored as a treatment endpoint and disability predictor.
Objective: To identify demographic and clinical predictors of relapse recovery in the first 3 years and examine its contribution to 10-year disability and MRI outcomes.
Methods: Relapse recovery was retrospectively assessed in 360 patients with MS using the return of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Functional System Scale and neurologic signs to baseline at least 6 months after onset.
Background: Ocrelizumab is approved for the treatment of both relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objective: To examine the impact of ocrelizumab on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with MS.
Methods: Ninety-eight individuals with relapsing and 32 with progressive MS were enrolled.