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    I attended a Heuga Center program in Sept. of 2001.  The attitude of Jimmie Heuga and the work of the organization were quite inspirational and had a real impact on my life. This organization taught me that though exercise is not a cure for MS, it helps one deal better with the deficits created on a cellular level. Many thanks for all that you do!"

     David, CAN DO Program Alumni
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    Warmer Weather Hampers Thinking Skills in People with MS

    Posted Friday, April 8, 2011

    News from the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

    People with MS may find it harder to learn, remember or process information on warmer days of the year, according to new information from a small study from the Kessler Foundation in West Orange, New Jersey.

    "Studies have linked warmer weather to increased disease activity and lesions in people with MS, but this is the first research to show a possible link between warm weather and cognition, or thinking skills, in people with the disease," said study author Victoria Leavitt, Ph.D., with the Kessler Foundation.

    For the study, 40 people with MS and 40 people without MS were given tests that measured learning, memory, and the speed at which they processed information. Those people with MS also underwent brain scans. The daily temperature on the days the tests were taken was also recorded.

    The study found that people with MS scored 70 percent better on thinking tests during cooler days compared to warmer days of the year. There was no link between thinking test scores and temperature for those without MS.

    "With more research, this information might help guide people with MS in life decisions and their doctors with clinical treatment. Scientists may also consider the effect of warmer weather on cognition when conducting clinical trials," says Leavitt.

    These findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.


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    Can Do Multiple Sclerosis™ is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
    Charitable Organization Number: 74-2337853

    Formerly The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis | Founded by Jimmie Heuga

    A national nonprofit organization, Can Do MS is a leading provider of innovative lifestyle empowerment programs
    that empower people with MS and their support partners to transform and improve their quality of life.