46 msfocusmagazine.org Study: Diet may help reduce disability and MS symptoms A new study suggests that for people with multiple sclerosis, eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may be linked to having less disability and fewer symptoms than people whose diet is less healthy. According to the study’s author, this study does not determine whether a healthy lifestyle reduces MS symptoms or whether having severe symptoms makes it harder for people to engage in a healthy lifestyle, however it provides evidence for the link between the two. The study was published in the online issue of Neurology. Dr. Thrower: One of the most common questions I hear from the MS community is, “What is the best diet for a person with MS?” Several diets have been popular for people with MS, including the Swank Diet and, more recently, the Wahl’s Diet (which is more of a Paleo diet). Others advocate avoiding gluten or dairy products. While there are anecdotal reports of people feeling better on any of these diets, the plain truth is that we don’t know if any diet truly changes the course of MS. I tend to look at things from a practical standpoint. Most people with MS will die of the same things everyone else does – heart disease, cancer, or stroke. So, if we try to eat in ways that we maximize our overall health, that makes sense. A diet that is higher in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and fewer saturated fats, has never hurt anybody. Eating to maintain an ideal body weight will be associated with better health overall. This most recent study does show an association between eating a healthy diet and having less MS disability and other symptoms. The authors do point out that an association is not the same as a cause and effect. It could be that people with less disability and less depression are more likely to eat better. Still, I suspect that we should all do what our moms told us and eat more fruits and vegetables. Survey: Most newly diagnosed women aren’t sharing concerns with healthcare team A new survey asking about personal relationships, reproductive issues, and employment concerns shows 98 percent of women newly diagnosed with MS felt many of these concerns were not addressed by their Medicine & Research Doctor’s Notes The Doctor’s Notes column includes analysis from Ben Thrower, M.D., MS Focus senior medical advisor. Dr. Thrower draws from the top news stories of the quarter and explains what the news means to you, the person with MS.