
Confronting the Challenges of Advanced Multiple Sclerosis: Insights from Dr. Sam Hooshmand
2025-06-17
Author: Jia
The Hidden Struggles of Advanced Multiple Sclerosis
Advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) is an intricate condition that poses significant hurdles for both patients and healthcare providers. Dr. Sam Hooshmand, a prominent neurologist, emphasizes the urgent need for advocating clinical trial inclusion for advanced MS patients to gather crucial data for more effective treatment options.
Understanding the Burden of Secondary Progressive MS
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) often presents a slow but steady decline in neurological function, leading to escalating physical disabilities and cognitive challenges. Traditional assessment methods, like the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), tend to overlook critical symptoms such as cognitive impairments and issues related to bowel and bladder control. This results in an underestimation of disease severity.
Shifting Towards Proactive Management
To tackle these challenges, early identification of cognitive and sensory deficits is vital. Utilizing cognitive screening tools and digital assessments can help healthcare providers implement proactive care strategies before functional decline becomes too severe.
The Need for Evidence-Based Treatments
Managing advanced MS is complex, primarily due to the scarcity of robust evidence from clinical trials, which often exclude patients with higher EDSS scores. A recent meta-analysis indicated that some disease-modifying therapies may help slow disease progression in individuals with progressive MS, but careful consideration of the associated risks is essential. This highlights an urgent need for more inclusive trials.
Personalized Care is Essential
During the recent 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Hooshmand discussed the inconsistencies surrounding the definition of advanced MS. He stressed that relying exclusively on EDSS scores fails to account for complications that significantly affect quality of life. He called for a personalized approach to care that prioritizes functional independence and addresses the unique challenges faced by patients.
The Call to Action for Clinical Trials
Dr. Hooshmand’s insights underline the pressing need for the inclusion of patients with advanced MS in clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies. This shift could pave the way for developing more relevant treatments tailored specifically for those experiencing the most severe forms of the disease.
As we look ahead, the healthcare community must rally to ensure that advanced MS patients receive the attention and resources they deserve.