The search for more effective treatments for conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an ongoing journey. MS treatments that take into consideration an individual’s biological clock, or circadian rhythmicity, have the potential to become a revolutionary approach to managing this challenging disorder.
Future Directions
Current research into circadian rhythmicity and MS has revealed that dietary interventions could be a valuable addition to immunotherapy to slow the disease course. A systematic review by Pivovarova-Ramich et al. (2023) hypothesized that chronotherapeutic approaches like time-restricted eating (TRE) may benefit people with MS through the stabilization of their circadian clock. This could also help in the restoration of their immunological and metabolic rhythms and counteract disease progression.
Melatonin levels have also been reported to be lower in individuals with MS, compared to controls (Pivovarova-Ramich et al., 2023). Anderson et al. (2015) found that melatonin also inhibits demyelination and boosts remyelination in individuals with MS, indicating that it is a key hormone in the course of MS, and may be an important future therapy for this disease.
Circa MS and Novel Treatments
With the CircaMS study, we are investigating how circadian rhythms impact MS symptoms such as pain, mood, and fatigue. This research also has the potential to provide fresh insights MS-related these symptoms and how they change throughout the day. Our goal is to understand circadian fluctuations in MS symptomatology to better understand individual experiences and find practical and personalized solutions.
The CircaMS study will help us to understand more about the relationship between circadian rhythmicity and MS. This will open a window towards improving existing and developing novel interventions for MS, while finding new ways to personalize and maximize their impact.
Written by Eileen Danaee
References:
Anderson, G., & Rodriguez, M. (2015). Multiple sclerosis: the role of melatonin and N-acetylserotonin. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 4(2), 112–123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2014.12.001
Pivovarova-Ramich, O., Zimmermann, H. G., & Paul, F. (2023). Multiple sclerosis and circadian rhythms: Can diet act as a treatment?. Acta physiologica (Oxford, England), 237(4), e13939. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.13939