Symptom management

The symptom management theme focuses on understanding, assessing, and treating symptoms of MS. We mainly focus on (i) cognition, and (ii) psycho-social adjustment and psychological wellbeing. We are developing new research projects into management of other symptoms, particularly fatigue and spasticity. 

(i) Cognition

Up to 70% of people with MS can experience cognitive problems. These are persistent and debilitating to the person with MS, and can adversely affect their personal, social, and professional lives. Unsurprisingly, the MS Society with the James Lind Alliance identified finding treatments to improve cognition as a top 10 research priority. Our portfolio of research into cognition focuses on (i) understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms that underpin the cognitive problems that people with MS face, and (ii) finding ways to treat or support people with cognitive problems, so that they can continue to participate in activities of daily life.

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(ii) Psychosocial adjustment and pyschological wellbeing 

There are key moments in the lives of people with MS that they find more stressful thanThere are key moments in the lives of people with MS that they find more stressful thanothers. However, we also know that many people with MS experience longer-termproblems with anxiety and depression. These have a knock-on effect on their MS andother aspects of their lives. Our portfolio of studies explores how best to support peopleat the points of diagnosis and transition to secondary progressive MS, and people withlow mood. We also examine how people manage their invisible symptoms and how tobest support people with MS to remain in work.

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