Why is it important?
MS damages the nerves in the brain and spinal cord and progresses differently for each person. This makes it difficult to predict how severe an individual’s MS will become. To better understand MS and enable people to plan for the future, we need ways to better measure nerve damage. MRI scans of the spinal cord can help with this.
Most MRI research in MS has focused on nerve damage in the brain. We know less about how MS damages the spinal cord, even though this is closely linked to difficulties people living with MS may experience. Additionally, most research so far have looked at the upper part of the spinal cord only, and focused on people living with MS for many years. It is therefore important to:
- Implement spinal cord MRI scans that can detect changes along the full length of the spinal cord
- Test these spinal cord MRI scans in people who have recently been diagnosed with MS
What could we learn?
CORD-MS will allow us to implement a spinal cord MRI scan dedicated to MS and provide us with initial information on early spinal cord changes in MS. It will additionally help us prepare for a larger study on how MS affects the spinal cord early on in the disease.
What can you do?
You my be able to take part in the study if you have been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS less than six months ago. You can speak with your MS Specialist Nurse for further information.
What is involved?
Participants will be asked to attend two identical study visits which will be six months apart. Each study visit includes a one-hour spinal cord MRI and several short tests to measure mobility.
