Scientists want to tackle multiple sclerosis by treating the kissing virus
Vaccines and antivirals are already undergoing trials
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects around 1.8m people worldwide. Symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, and trouble walking. Eventually, some people become severely disabled and complications from the condition can lead to death. There is currently no cure, and few treatments for advanced stages of the disease. But a series of recent findings have led to a tantalising idea—could a vaccine against a common virus finally consign MS to the history books?
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “A kiss and a cure”
From the March 2nd 2024 edition
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Without trees to circulate moisture, the land is getting hotter and drier
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They could soon show their moves in settings from car factories to care homes
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A mystery is finally being solved
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever
Concerns about some of their business models are building
The two types of human laugh
One is caused by tickling; the other by everything else
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It has thus far shed light on everything from organ formation to the causes of inflammation