Issue 22013

The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyAlabama-Mississippi Chapter

w w w . n a t i o n a l M S s o c i e t y . o r g / A L C • ( 8 0 0 ) 3 4 4 - 4 8 6 7

MS CONNECTION$543,791 FUNDS TWO NEW RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROJECTS AT UABThe National MS Society has allocated funds to support a new MS research project and a new training fellowship at UAB as part of its comprehensive strategy to STOP MS in its tracks, RESTORE function that has been lost, and END the disease forever.

In This Issue:

MS News.....................................2

Exercise the Brain......................4

Daniel Foundation ..................6

Challenge Walk 2013 .............7

2013 Bike MS............................8

RESEARCH

EXERCISE & THE BRAINBY BRUCE BEBO, PHD

Emerging evidence across the board suggests that exercise doesn’t just keep us physically fit, it helps our brain function better, too. Scientific presentations on exercise, rehabilitation and quality of life issues at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in March suggest this holds true for people living with multiple sclerosis, as well.

EXERCISE’S GOOD EFFECTSA small study from National Multiple Sclerosis Society-supported scientists at the Kessler Research Institute in New Jersey found that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise done three times a week over three months improved memory and increased the volume of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved with memory. These preliminary results will hopefully encourage further studies that will yield more definitive conclusions and maybe even recommendations.

Another study examined the potential of longer-term aerobic exercise to build endurance in people with MS. This study involved 60 people split into two groups: people who experienced fatigue and people who did not. Both groups performed individualized endurance exercises using treadmills.

After six months, both groups showed improved oxygen consumption. However, those who started out with fatigue showed improvement in their fatigue scores, but it took at least nine months of the program to see a difference. So while you may not feel the effects of exercise at first, persistence can pay off!

WHILE YOU MAY NOT FEEL THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AT FIRST, PERSISTENCE CAN PAY OFF!

EXERCISES FOR THE BRAINSome very interesting data illustrating how the brain reorganizes to adapt to MS damage was presented by a research team from the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy. This team

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE BODY MAY BE GOOD FOR THE BRAIN

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Tika Beneviste, PhD • $478,791 STOP MS PROGRESSIONInvestigating how molecules in an immune system signaling pathway may be harnessed to treat MS

“The results of this research project will provide new clues about how to control immune attacks against the nervous system in MS, and could lead to new treatment avenues.”

William Meador, MD • $65,000 STOP MS PROGRESSION

Post-residency training in MS clinical care

“Being able to train for an additional year in clinical MS will allow me to work more closely with patients

in clinic and with other specialists so that I can help MS patients achieve their greatest physical

potential.”

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800-344-4867 | 2

2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Frank McPhillips, ChairMaynard Cooper & Gale

Hafiz Chandiwala, Vice ChairCoca Cola Bottling Co United

Ritalinda Lee, PhD, SecretaryClaris Technical Services

George Trible, TreasurerWells Fargo

Khurram Bashir, MD, UAB Terry Brown, HealthSouth

Meredith Calhoun, Corporate RealtyTrey Clegg, Brasfield & Gorrie

Shannon Clemons, DigiumJeremy DiPiazza, Hoar Construction

Edmond E. Hughes, Ingalls ShipbuildingInge Johnstone, Law Offices of F. Inge

JohnstoneDoug Jones, Entergy

Christopher Leech, Regions Financial Corp. Charley Long, IV, Southern Company

Lynn Lovelady, EnergenPaul McNeill, Merrill Lynch

J. Marshall Morrissette, III, BlueCross BlueShield of AL

Ron Mumbower, PhD, First Baptist Church of Jackson

Stacie Propst, PhD, GASPSteve Reed, Go To Market Solutions

Emily Riser, MD, Tanner Center for MSSandy G. Robinson, Cabaniss Johnston

Gardner Dumas & O’NealDave Smith, Regions Financial

Craig Snell, Carr, Riggs & IngramMark Tarr, HealthSouthLee Weathers, Retired

MS NEWS

We Love Our Chapter’s Corporate Leadership Partners

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of AlabamaHealthSouth

Regions Financial CorporationWells Fargo

Georgeann Carter, RE/MAX Advantage, Birmingham, AL

REALTOR CLOSES IN ON CURE WITH EVEry CLosIngGeorgeann Carter has always found a way to put her talents to use as a realtor, putting complicated real estate deals together to help homeowners achieve their dreams. But, she also takes this a step further by donating a portion from every real estate closing to the National MS Society.

“My mother’s MS was misdiagnosed for years and therefore she was not treated with the right medications. She eventually passed away from complications related to her MS. Unfortunately she never got to attend my wedding or meet my fantastic son (or either of her other 2 beautiful grandchildren!). I support the Society for a very simple reason - so that the work to find a cure can continue and also so that families negotiating their way through this disease can get the help they need. I get excited every time I get a newsletter detailing advancements that have been made or new research underway. I also am excited to see an organization that gets out and does something, not just talk about it! This chapter organizes special events and educational programs for families touched by MS, such as outings to a baseball game or a BBQ at a local amusement park. When I get involved with a charity, I expect compassionate people who are at the same time passionate about the cause with which they are involved. The Society most definitely exceeds those expectations, by doing a great job in providing people affected by MS with opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Ms ACTIVIsTs BuILD rELATIonsHIPs WITH STATE LEGISLATORS

RECENT COUPLES RETREAToxforD, MIssIssIPPI • fEBruAry 8-9, 2013

Ms ACTIVIsTs ADVoCATE for IMProVED ACCEss To MEDICAL

CArE DurIng sTATE ADVoCACy DAys

3 | JoIn THE MoVEMEnT: nationalMSsociety.org

Breaking patterns that prevent effective communication

Applying successful problem-solving techniques

Working as a team to manage MS and your relationship

ALABAMA: State Sen. Greg Reed receives Chapter’s Alabama Public Servant Award for introducing legislation to make necessary medications more affordable.

MISSISSIPPI: MS Activists hand out oranges and advocate for improved access to health care at Mississippi state legislature in March 2013.

June 14-16 • Children’s Harbor, AL Ages 7-12 • registration Packet: 800-344-4867

or www.nationalMSsociety.org/alcFacilities generously donated by Children’s Harbor

RELATIONSHIP MATTERS COUPLES RETREATS:Workshops for Couples Living with MS

REGISTRATION FOR KIDS CAMP 2013

IS NOW OPEN! Space is limited!

For information about future retreats, contact Phyllis Epps at phyllis.epps@nmss.org.

RESEARCH

EXERCISE & THE BRAINBY BRUCE BEBO, PHD

Emerging evidence across the board suggests that exercise doesn’t just keep us physically fit, it helps our brain function better, too. Scientific presentations on exercise, rehabilitation and quality of life issues at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in March suggest this holds true for people living with multiple sclerosis, as well.

EXERCISE’S GOOD EFFECTSA small study from National Multiple Sclerosis Society-supported scientists at the Kessler Research Institute in New Jersey found that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise done three times a week over three months improved memory and increased the volume of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved with memory. These preliminary results will hopefully encourage further studies that will yield more definitive conclusions and maybe even recommendations.

Another study examined the potential of longer-term aerobic exercise to build endurance in people with MS. This study involved 60 people split into two groups: people who experienced fatigue and people who did not. Both groups performed individualized endurance exercises using treadmills.

After six months, both groups showed improved oxygen consumption. However, those who started out with fatigue showed improvement in their fatigue scores, but it took at least nine months of the program to see a difference. So while you may not feel the effects of exercise at first, persistence can pay off!

WHILE YOU MAY NOT FEEL THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AT FIRST, PERSISTENCE CAN PAY OFF!

EXERCISES FOR THE BRAINSome very interesting data illustrating how the brain reorganizes to adapt to MS damage was presented by a research team from the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy. This team

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE BODY MAY BE GOOD FOR THE BRAIN

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800-344-4867 | 4

RESEARCH

RESOURCESFor more on cognitive issues and MS, visit nationalMSsociety.org/cognition. To learn more about exercise and MS, visit nationalMSsociety.org/exercise, or call 1-800-344-4867 to find out about exercise programs in the area.

looked at the impacts of a 12-week computer- assisted course that focused on training to increase memory and attention (the course was previously reported to improve attention and executive thinking abilities). Using functional MRI, which allows a real-time glimpse of the brain at work, they found indicators that brain activity had increased in specific areas. This improvement appeared to persist at least six months after the training was completed.

Researchers from Milan and from Kessler also reported that people with MS with more “brain reserve” (larger brain size) and more “cognitive reserve” (increasing the ability to withstand or postpone MS-associated decline in cognition with activities such as doing puzzles or playing music) were at lower risk for cognitive changes associated with brain lesions. Even when brain size is accounted for, those with more cognitive reserve appear to have lower risk for cognitive changes.

There’s nothing any of us can do about the size of our brains. But growing evidence suggests that people may be able to build cognitive reserve

by engaging in enrichment activities (Words with Friends anyone?). It’s exciting to think that actions we can take, such as some mental and physical training, can actually alter brain circuits, improve brain activity and possibly help slow the progression of MS.

IT’S EXCITING TO THINK THAT ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE, SUCH AS SOME MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TRAINING, CAN POSSIBLY SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF MS.

Summaries of the meeting can be viewed on the AAN’s website at www.abstracts2view.com/aan, or visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/research for an overview of MS-related research presented at the meeting. n

Bruce Bebo, PhD, is associate vice president of Discovery Research at the National MS Society, and was previously a research immunologist focusing

on the influence of sex hormones on MS. He is a passionate Society volunteer, fundraiser and advocate, fueled in part by the fact that his mother has lived with MS for more than 30 years.

Read more of Dr. Bebo’s blog posts about research presentations at the annual AAN meeting at blog.nationalMSsociety.org, where this was originally published.

5 | JoIn THE MoVEMEnT: nationalMSsociety.org

RESEARCH

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800-344-4867 | 6

MS NEWS THE DANIEL FOUNDATION FUNDS MS REHABILITATION PROGRAMThe Tanner Center for MS has started a bi-monthly post rehabilitation program offered at the Chapter’s Birmingham office through a grant from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama. This collaborative program allows persons

with MS who have limited or no insurance to receive free occupational and physical therapy for two hours on the first and third Wednesday of every month. The group setting provides peer support and socialization for those involved as well as family members and caregivers. UAB Occupational Therapy student volunteers assist the participants with exercises.

Join a new, in-person National MS Society program with an exciting 5-week curriculum called

Everyday Matters: Living your Best Life With Ms (everydayMsmatters.org). Put positive psychology to work in your life!

When: Beginning Monday, MAy 6, 5:30-7:30 pm (every Monday for 5 weeks)Where: The Alabama-Mississippi Chapter’s Birmingham office

813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100B, Birmingham, AL 35209What: Videos, presentations from Clint Reeves, LPC, Tanner Center for MS,

and handouts will help you increase your knowledge of the principles of positive psychology and gain an understanding how these principles can be used as a strategy for living with MS, as well as identify additional community resources for support and connection.

Who: Persons living with MS and their Care Partners

register Today (space is limited): 800-344-4867 or www.nationalMssociety.org/alc

EVERYDAY MATTERS Put positive psychology to work in your life!

Living Your Best Life With Ms

7 | JoIn THE MoVEMEnT: nationalMSsociety.org

MIzE, MISS. TAKES THE CAKE:AusTIn fAMILy CAkE sALE AT CATTLE AuCTIon rAIsEs $2,500!

Home Sweet Home The top 3 reasons to join Healthfitbodies.com an exercise website specializing in MS

#1) You have access to your online MS workout 24/7 -before and after your work day.#2) The weather is too … and you want to stay in the comfort of your home and workout. .#3) You can create your own group classes and time schedule to follow the exercise programs together.

Healthfitbodies.com offers Group and Individual classes online.Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Call Kathleen for more info at 954.648.7127or email at Contact@healthfitbodies.com

(Left to right): Program Manager Aquilla Stanback and volunteers Ceil Graham and Diane Sausen joined hundreds and raised thousands in March for the 3-day Challenge Walk in Charleston, SC.

Michelle and George Austin rally Mize, Miss (population 340) to raise $7,500+ through events such as auctioning cakes at the local cattle auction and holding a community walk.

Put positive psychology to work in your life!

For information about being part of Challenge Walk 2014, call 800-344-4867!

Alabama-Mississippi Chapter813 Shades Creek ParkwaySuite 100-BBirmingham, AL 35209

JOIN THE MOVEMENT ON

National MS Society Alabama-Mississippi Chapter

@ALMS_NMSS

www.youtube.com/user/alcnmss

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & youTuBE

North AlAbAmA JuNe 8tour de beAch September 21-22bike to the bAttlefield october 12-13

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBIRMINGHAM, ALPERMIT NO. 02680

800-344-4867 or www.Bike MS.org