The week's good news: January 17, 2019

It wasn't all bad!

Stem cells.
(Image credit: Pablo_K/iStock)

1. Study finds stem cell therapy could stop symptoms of MS in some patients

A new study shows that stem cell transplants could stop symptoms in some people with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects 2.3 million patients worldwide. MS targets the central nervous system, with the immune system attacking the protective sheath covering nerves. During the clinical trial, patients had their stem cells collected and stored, then received high-dose chemotherapy treatments, which wiped out their immune systems. Their stem cells were later infused back into their bodies, giving their immune systems a reboot. Fewer than 10 percent of participants subsequently reported that their condition got worse, versus more than 75 percent of patients whose disease progressed while taking medications for MS over a five-year period. One patient who participated in the trial, Amanda Loy of Alaska, said before the transplant, her arms were numb, she had bladder issues, and her balance was off. Now, she can run, and will participate in the Chicago Marathon.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.