We know you’ve read it here before, but as more evidence continues to come to light, we cannot emphasize enough the need to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D, particularly in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, scientists have shown that “low vitamin D levels in the bloodstream are associated with slower information processing speeds in people with early-stage disease.”1 And while cognitive impairment was thought to appear only in the progressive types of MS, more recent findings indicate that this actually may occur across all stages of MS.

In a recent review, scientists looked at findings from several clinical trials that evaluated whether memantine, a glutamate-signaling suppressor, might prove to have any efficacy when used in patients suffering with multiple sclerosis (MS).

A bit of background…
As an abundant chemical messenger in the brain, glutamate plays a vital role in the functions of learning and memory, but in large amounts can impose significant negative impacts. ​

Every day we see more and more evidence that what and how we eat affects not just our general health, but the health of our brains as well. For patients challenged by the effects of a neurological disorder, nutritional oversight is an especially important part of our integrative “toolkit” and one that can make a big difference in the short and long term. 

Much has been explored regarding the important connection that exists between our gut and our brain. A robust gut microbiome, comprised of all our body’s organisms and their collective genetic material, is critical to our overall health. But, did you know that many neurological diseases may first present with certain gastrointestinal-related symptoms? ​

We’ve previously written on numerous occasions about the benefits of vitamin D and its significance in maintaining a healthy immune system. In cases of a multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse we almost always see low levels of D well below the recommended 60-80 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). 

A small clinical study has reported primary findings that treatment for two months with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is a natural molecule that enhances the levels of antioxidants, significantly improved metabolic activity in certain brain regions among people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
NAC is the N-acetyl derivative of the naturally occurring amino acid, L-cysteine, and studies have suggested that it helps increase glutathione levels in the body and brain. If these levels are depleted it contributes to more oxidative stress that occurs with disease processes in MS, which can then disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and result in neuronal and axonal injury.