Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord (Ghasemi et al., 2017). In people with MS, the body’s immune system accidentally attacks myelin; the protective “coating” covering the axons: which are “wires” that extend from a nerve cell (neuron). This system works together to send messages through the body (Podbielska et al., 2013).
What is myelin?
Myelin is like the plastic covering on electrical wires, or “axons”. Just like that coating keeps electricity flowing efficiently along a wire, myelin wraps around nerve cells to keep signals moving quickly and accurately through the body. If this coating is damaged, the signal can get lost, slow down, or stop. This happens in MS, where damaged myelin breaks up communication between the brain and body, causing symptoms like blurred vision, fatigue, pain, and challenges with movement, thinking, and mood (MSIF, 2020).
Can myelin be repaired?
Researchers are working to find new treatments that may help repair the myelin surrounding nerve cells. These new therapies, called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), aim to slow the progression of MS and potentially restore communication within the nervous system. Currently, there are ongoing clinical trials exploring medications that may help repair damaged myelin (Abdelrahman & Alvarez, 2024). Existing medications may have a newfound purpose in promoting the growth of cells that rebuild myelin, improving the communication between the central nervous system (brain) and the peripheral nervous system (body) (Kocot et al., 2025). There is also increasing research on how low-intensity exercise may slow down damage to the myelin, specifically exploring how physical activity might help improve symptoms by reducing inflammation in nerve cells (Hahn et al., 2025).
Symptoms of MS
The severity and duration of MS symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and even within the same day. Specifically, pain and fatigue often worsen each other and can fluctuate significantly over the course of a day (Kratz et al., 2017).
We are working to better understand why these symptoms change throughout the day and how they might be linked to what is happening inside the body. By understanding this connection, we hope to guide the development of more personalized treatments and strategies for people living with MS. If you live with MS and experience these symptoms, you may be eligible to participate in the CircaMS Study. Click here to start the survey!
Click here to learn more about new research supported by MS Canada!
Abdelrahman, A., & Alvarez, E. (2024). Advances in Multiple Sclerosis Neurotherapeutics, Neuroprotection, and Risk Mitigation Strategies. Neurologic Clinics, 42(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2023.08.002
Ghasemi, N., Razavi, S., & Nikzad, E. (2017). Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy. Cell journal, 19(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2016.4867
Hahn, K. R., Hwang, I. K., & Yoo, D. Y. (2025). Low-Intensity Physical Exercise is Associated with Improved Myelination and Reduced Microglial Activation in a Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination Model. Neurochemical Research, 50(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-025-04441-8
Kocot, J., Kosa, P., Ashida, S., Pirjanian, N. A., Goldbach-Mansky, R., Peterson, K., Fossati, V., Holland, S. M., & Bielekova, B. (2025). Clemastine fumarate accelerates accumulation of disability in progressive multiple sclerosis by enhancing pyroptosis. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 135(10), e183941. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI183941
Kratz, A. L., Murphy, S. L., & Braley, T. J. (2017). Pain, Fatigue, and Cognitive Symptoms Are Temporally Associated Within but Not Across Days in Multiple Sclerosis. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 98(11), 2151–2159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.003
Podbielska, M., Banik, N. L., Kurowska, E., & Hogan, E. L. (2013). Myelin recovery in multiple sclerosis: the challenge of remyelination. Brain sciences, 3(3), 1282–1324. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci3031282
The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, Atlas of MS, 3rd Edition (September 2020).