Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS is a quarterly newsletter written especially for people living with MS (patients, family members, and care partners). It is chock-full of up-to-date information about MS and practical tips for dealing with it. Much can be done to manage MS—Making Strides can show you how! Please visit the Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS Editorial Board. Enroll today for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS    Women and MS (Vol. 8, Issue 4) - Featured in this issue of Making Strides is an article about women and MS, with a look into the complicated relationship between gender, disease course, and biology. Also featured is an explanation of clinically isolated syndrome, which resembles MS, and an article about the importance of respite care for caregivers.   Neuromyelitis Optica (Vol. 8, Issue 3) - Featured in this issue of Making Strides is an article on neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a disease often misidentified as MS, a discussion on overcoming the fear of needles and self-administration of injectable MS therapies, and a list of simple ways one can help caregivers of people with MS.   Drug Development: From Lab to Pharmacy (Vol. 8, Issue 2) - Drug research and development is one of the most important aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) research. However, the process of developing a chemical compound into a safe and useful pharmaceutical can be expensive, time-consuming, and very complex. In this issue, the entire course of a drug's development, from laboratory to pharmacy, is explained.   Vision Problems in MS (Vol. 8, Issue 1) - Up to 80% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience vision problems that are related to the disease. These vision problems can take the form of blurred or double vision, uncontrolled eye movements, and even eye pain. Vision problems can be serious and hard to accept, but the challenges they present can be overcome with just a few adaptations. This issue of Making Strides: Perspectives On Living With MS provides more information on the nature and causes of vision problems in MS, as well as strategies and adjustments to cope with and manage MS-related vision issues.   Depression and MS (Vol. 7, Issue 4) - It is estimated that 50% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience moderate to severe clinical depression. Depression is more than just feeling down; it's a serious condition that should be addressed by your healthcare professional. It's also not something that a person should be ashamed of. This issue of Making Strides: Perspectives On Living With MS provides more information on depression and its relationship with MS, including ways to recognize depression and ways it can be treated effectively.   Measuring MS (Vol. 7, Issue 3) - In this issue of Making Strides, we describe ways in which a varied disease can be measured in a universal way. Also covered in this issue are ways in which MS can affect a person’s thinking and answers to questions you may have about special diets and their impact on MS.   On the Move With MS (Vol. 7, Issue 2) - This issue of Making Strides is all about being physically active with MS. A diagnosis of MS need not require a prescription to become sedentary. In fact, engaging in a regular exercise program can have a positive effect on symptoms and quality of life. And who, one can ask, does not benefit from taking a vacation to escape life’s daily pressures? With planning and preparation, you can engage in fun and healthy activities safely. Read on for more.   Special Edition: Your MS Questions and Answers (Vol. 7, Issue 1) - With a disease as unpredictable as multiple sclerosis (MS), it is no surprise that those living with MS often have many questions. Whether you have just received a diagnosis of MS or you have been managing MS for years, you may wonder about the cause of MS, treatments available to manage it, and its effects on relationships and work. This special edition of Making Strides will try to answer some of the questions many people have. Unlike previous issues, this issue is entirely Q&A. Not all questions may apply to your situation; if that is the case, pay attention to those questions that do, and simply ignore the rest. It’s a rule of thumb that should be applied to all sources of MS information you encounter. The answers provided have the potential to inform, reassure, and guide you as you continue to live and enjoy your life in spite of MS.   MS and the Web (Vol. 6, Issue 4) - In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss how the Web can be an effective and interactive search tool for people with MS. Included is a special tear-out page with a compilation of MS-related Web sites that may be of interest. A review of advanced imaging techniques used primarily in MS research is covered in this issue as well.   MS and Genetics (Vol. 6, Issue 3) - The underlying cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a mystery that has yet to be solved. Nevertheless, patients who have been diagnosed with MS wonder if their disease has a genetic basis and can, therefore, be passed down to other family members. While for the most part, patients with MS have no family history of the disease, genetic susceptibility to MS is greater in those who do have a family history. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss MS and genetics and the latest findings from MS genetic research. Other featured topics include information about the portability and rules of traveling with your MS medications and useful information for long-distance caregivers.   The History of MS (Vol. 6, Issue 2) - The characterization of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a disease in which the immune system destroys myelin and axons in the central nervous system is the cornerstone of all diagnostic and management strategies, but these basic facts about the disease were only clearly established within the past few decades. The history of MS is centuries old, however. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss the history of MS, including the development of existing therapies and the ongoing research to develop new treatments and to determine the cause of MS. Other featured topics include a review on heat-related pseudoattacks and tips on how to avoid them, answers to questions on how to get the most out of your doctor visits, and information for caregivers who have children with MS.   Neuronal Repair and Protection in MS (Vol. 6, Issue 1) - Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) play an important role in delaying the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) over time. Research continues, however, to elucidate the underlying cause(s) of the pathogenesis of MS. As a result of this research, new therapeutic strategies are emerging to repair and perhaps protect the nerves from further damage. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss the importance of neuronal protection and repair in MS. Other featured topics include a review of bladder and bowel dysfunction in patients with MS and the treatments available to manage the conditions, answers to questions on oral therapies that are currently being investigated to treat MS, and information for caregivers regarding their rights in the workplace.   Archives Editorial Board