BrainHealth & ClinicSpeak: Six ways to lead a brain-healthy lifestyle

The next phase of of Brain Health: Time Matters in MS! #BrainHealth #MSBlog #ClinicSpeak

"In addition to MS-specific treatments and minimising time delays we are now promoting a Brain Healthy Lifestyle for MSers."



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"The simple descriptive study below shows that obesity in pwMS comes with a price; in short obesity is associated with reduced and slower mobility. The study does not address cause or effect. Does reduced mobility cause the obesity rather than the obesity being the cause of the reduced mobility. Regardless of causation, or reverse causation, if you have MS you should try an maintain a normal body weight. This is common sense and applies to the general population as well. including healthcare professionals working in the field of MS."

Kalron. Relationship of Obesity With Gait and Balance in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Jun 17.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of obesity with walking and balance in people with multiple sclerosis.


DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study performed at the Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Four hundred thirty-six people with multiple sclerosis were divided into obese (n = 178) and normal-weight (n = 258) groups. Spatiotemporal parameters of gait, 2-Minute Walk test, 6-Minute Walk test, Timed Up and Go test, Timed 25-Foot Walk test, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale self-reported questionnaire, and posturography measures were determined.

RESULTS: Compared with normal-weight patients, obese subjects walked significantly slower [98.7 (SD, 29.2) m/s vs. 106.4 (SD, 29.2) m/s; P = 0.01], with shorter step lengths [54.8 (SD, 11.6) cm vs. 58.1 (SD, 10.7) cm; P = 0.003] and a wider step width [12.1 (SD, 3.7) cm vs. 10.9 (SD, 4.6) cm; P = 0.01]. Furthermore, the obese group walked a shorter distance on the 6-Minute Walk test [378.2 (SD, 145.5) m vs. 426.1 (SD, 129.8) m; P ≤ 0.001] and slower on the Timed 25-Foot Walk test [9.0 (SD, 8.0) seconds vs. 7.2 (SD, 2.4) seconds; P = 0.006] and the Timed Up and Go test [9.2 (SD, 6.3) seconds vs. 10.0 (SD, 6.1) seconds; P = 0.002]. No significant differences between groups were noted in the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale self-reported questionnaire and postural control measures.

CONCLUSION: Obesity affects walking but not postural control in people with multiple sclerosis despite the level of neurological disability.

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