Exploring Environmental Risk Factors for Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

A special issue of Sclerosis (ISSN 2813-3064).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2024) | Viewed by 3134

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Scientific Direction, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
2. Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, 20156 Milano, Italy
Interests: risk factors; prognostic factors; guidelines; neuroepidemiology; multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; alcohol-related diseases

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Guest Editor
Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
Interests: neuroinflammation; multiple sclerosis; neuromodulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

While the role of environmental factors in increasing the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is partially known, growing evidence suggests that they also significantly contribute to disease progression in both conditions. By dedicating a Special Issue to this topic, we can bring together experts from various disciplines to share their research findings and create a robust knowledge base regarding the environmental risk factors involved.

The objective of this Special Issue is to foster a comprehensive understanding of the environmental risk factors implicated in the progression of both MS and ALS. By comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between the two diseases, we aim at identifying shared mechanisms and discovering potential avenues for preventive strategies.

Main Themes:

  1. Common Environmental Risk Factors: Investigate shared environmental factors that have been associated with disease progression in both MS and ALS. These include toxic exposures, pollution, occupational hazards, smoking, physical activity, diet/nutrition, and others.
  2. Disease-Specific Environmental Risk Factors: Discuss environmental factors that are more specific to either MS or ALS, exploring their different role in disease onset and progression and potential mechanisms of action.
  3. Biomarkers and Mechanisms: Explore biomarkers or underlying mechanisms that are implicated in both diseases, shedding light on potential common pathways that link environmental exposures to disease progression. These may include immune oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
  4. Preventive Strategies and Interventions: Highlight the potential of these identified environmental risk factors as targets for therapeutic interventions and strategies to slow disease progression in both MS and ALS. This may involve lifestyle modifications, public health policies, pharmacological interventions, and innovative technologies.

This Special Issue will consist of expert reviews, original research articles, and perspective pieces. We aim to involve researchers and clinicians from various fields such as neurology, epidemiology, toxicology, immunology, and environmental health.

This Special Issue will provide a platform for the synthesis and dissemination of evidence regarding environmental risk factors for disease progression in MS and ALS. By highlighting similarities and differences, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between genetics and the environment in disease progression. Ultimately, this knowledge will pave the way for preventive measures, early interventions, and personalized treatments for these devastating neurological disorders.

Dr. Maurizio A. Leone
Dr. Radu Tanasescu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sclerosis is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental risk factors
  • multiple sclerosis
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • disease onset and progression
  • environmental exposures

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 604 KiB  
Article
Resilience, Mental Health, Sleep, and Smoking Mediate Pathways Between Lifetime Stressors and Multiple Sclerosis Severity
by Carri S. Polick, Hala Darwish, Leonardo Pestillo de Oliveira, Ali Watson, Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci, Patrick S. Calhoun, Robert J. Ploutz-Snyder, Cathleen M. Connell, Tiffany J. Braley and Sarah A. Stoddard
Sclerosis 2024, 2(4), 341-354; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis2040022 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 726
Abstract
Introduction: Lifetime stressors (e.g., poverty, violence, discrimination) have been linked to features of multiple sclerosis (MS); yet mechanistic pathways and relationships with cumulative disease severity remain nebulous. Further, protective factors like resilience, that may attenuate the effects of stressors on outcomes, are seldom [...] Read more.
Introduction: Lifetime stressors (e.g., poverty, violence, discrimination) have been linked to features of multiple sclerosis (MS); yet mechanistic pathways and relationships with cumulative disease severity remain nebulous. Further, protective factors like resilience, that may attenuate the effects of stressors on outcomes, are seldom evaluated. Aim: To deconstruct pathways between lifetime stressors and cumulative severity on MS outcomes, accounting for resilience. Methods: Adults with MS (N = 924) participated in an online survey through the National MS Society listserv. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the direct and indirect effects of lifetime stressors (count/severity) on MS severity (self-reported disability, relapse burden, fatigue, pain intensity, and interference) via resilience, mental health (anxiety and depression), sleep disturbance, and smoking. Results: The final analytic model had an excellent fit (GFI = 0.998). Lifetime stressors had a direct relationship with MS severity (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). Resilience, mental health, sleep disturbance, and smoking significantly mediated the relationship between lifetime stressors and MS severity. The total effect of the mediation was significant (β = 0.45). Conclusions: This work provides foundational evidence to inform the conceptualization of pathways by which stress could influence MS disease burden. Resilience may attenuate the effects of stressors, while poor mental health, smoking, and sleep disturbances may exacerbate their impact. Parallel with usual care, these mediators could be targets for early multimodal therapies to improve the disease course. Full article
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10 pages, 575 KiB  
Article
Diet-Induced Changes in Functional Disability among People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Secondary Pooled Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Pilot Trials
by Allison R. Groux, Elizabeth S. Walker, Farnoosh Shemirani, Jennifer E. Lee, Amanda K. Irish, Linda M. Rubenstein, Linda G. Snetselaar, Warren G. Darling, Terry L. Wahls and Tyler J. Titcomb
Sclerosis 2024, 2(3), 156-165; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis2030011 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1656
Abstract
Emerging evidence links dietary interventions to favorable multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes; however, evidence for the efficacy of dietary interventions on functional disability remains sparse. Data from two 12-week, randomized, controlled pilot trials were pooled to investigate the efficacy of a modified Paleolithic diet [...] Read more.
Emerging evidence links dietary interventions to favorable multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes; however, evidence for the efficacy of dietary interventions on functional disability remains sparse. Data from two 12-week, randomized, controlled pilot trials were pooled to investigate the efficacy of a modified Paleolithic diet (Paleo) on functional disability, as assessed by the MS Functional Composite (MSFC), among people diagnosed with MS. Pooled baseline-referenced MSFC scores were calculated from the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) Z-scores. There was no significant difference in the mean change in MSFC scores between groups (p = 0.07). In the Paleo group, a significant increase was observed in the MSFC scores (p = 0.03), NHPT (p < 0.001), and PASAT (p = 0.04) Z-scores at 12 weeks, indicating reduced functional disability compared to baseline values. No significant changes were observed within the Control group. Study-specific differences in the MSFC changes between groups were observed. Functional disability was reduced compared to the baseline in the Paleo group, possibly depending on MS type. These results provide preliminary observations on the efficacy of a modified Paleolithic diet for reducing or maintaining functional disability in MS. Full article
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