For people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brushing teeth or visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. That’s according to InfiniTeach, developers of the All Smiles Shineapp. About 1-in-54 children are diagnosed with ASD and some research shows that those with ASD have a higher risk of dental disease.
“Oral health habits can be hard for many people with ASD, largely due to sensory sensitivities,” said Barbie Vartanian, Executive Director of Project Accessible Oral Health (PAOH). “In addition, self-soothing habits, such as teeth grinding or eating sugary foods, can also affect dental health. This is often compounded by communication challenges that make it difficult to relay concerns about teeth, resulting in delays in care. The All Smiles Shine app offers evidence-based solutions to help.”
The All Smiles Shine app was created in partnership with PAOH and Delta Dental to help the autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities communities learn about oral health care, practice preventive care at home, and prepare for an upcoming visit to the dentist.
credit: Shutterstock
App features include:
At-home videos that support preventive care practices, a flossing and brushing tracker with rewards, and how to prepare for a dental visit.
Personalized sensory preferences, interests and calming tools to share with the dentist.
Picture schedules, breathing exercises, emotion identifiers and more.
“Utilizing technology to encourage a better self-care oral health program holds the hope of improving the health of those with autism spectrum disorder,” says Dr. Mark S. Wolff, Dean of the Penn Dental Medicine, the administrative home of PAOH.
All Smiles Shine is uniquely designed to help alleviate anxiety and encourage better habits through evidence-based autism interventions and best practices in technology development, as identified by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder. By embedding these evidence-based practices into the app, people with ASD and their families can customize the experience to their needs.
“This is just the beginning. The All Smiles Shine app will evolve to meet the ongoing needs of the autism community and children with dental anxiety,” said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the Delta Dental Foundation. “We hope you’ll choose to grow with us.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation just announced in March 2022 that it is publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would improve the accessibility of lavatories for people with disabilities traveling on new single-aisle aircraft.
“Far too often, travelers with disabilities don’t have the opportunity to fly to their destinations because they can’t access the lavatories on most airplanes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This rule would make airplane lavatories more accessible for passengers with disabilities, and bring us one step closer to the day when air travel is possible for everyone.”
Currently, there is no federal requirement that lavatories on single-aisle aircraft be accessible to individuals with disabilities. The inability to use the lavatory on long flights can present significant challenges to passengers who use wheelchairs. Some passengers, knowing that they will not be able to use the toilet during a flight, dehydrate themselves so that they do not need to urinate. These actions can cause many adverse health effects. Other passengers use adult diapers or catheters, which they may find degrading and uncomfortable. Still, other wheelchair users avoid flying altogether.
Single-aisle aircraft now operate the vast majority of domestic flights, including a large share of long, cross-country flights. The proposed rule would require airlines to make at least one lavatory on new single-aisle aircraft with 125 or more passenger seats large enough to permit a passenger with a disability (with the help of an assistant, if necessary) to approach, enter and maneuver within the aircraft lavatory, to use all facilities in that lavatory, and to leave using the aircraft’s onboard wheelchair.
This rulemaking is one of the Department’s highest priority regulatory initiatives because it advances equity and reduces discrimination by increasing access to transportation for individuals with disabilities.
credit: Shutterstock
The proposed rule would apply to new aircraft ordered 18 years after the effective date of the final rule or delivered 20 years after the effective date of the final rule. It is the result of a 2016 negotiated rulemaking that was produced through a consensus among a cross-section of stakeholders, including disability organizations such as Paralyzed Veterans of America and the National Disability Rights Network; the Association of Flight Attendants; Airbus; and airlines. However, given this long timeframe and in recognition of the affirmative responsibility of the Federal government to advance equity, civil rights and equal opportunity for all individuals, the Department is seeking comment on whether these accessibility improvements could be implemented more quickly than proposed. Based on the comments it receives, the Department may adjust the implementation timeline as part of the final rule.
“Paralyzed Veterans of America has been waiting for access to lavatories on single-aisle aircraft for people with mobility disabilities since the passage of the Air Carrier Access Act nearly 36 years ago,” said Charles Brown, National President of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “That’s 36 years of fasting, dehydrating and developing medical issues as a result of a lack of access to inflight lavatories. We are pleased that the Department of Transportation is now moving this long-overdue rule forward and see it as one step closer to equitable treatment. We cannot underscore the importance of having dignified access to lavatories for our physical health and well-being, and we must have lavatory access as soon as possible.”
The Department is also examining other ways to improve the air travel environment for persons with disabilities. The Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) assists, educates and protects aviation consumers by reviewing and responding to thousands of consumer complaints about air travel; investigating and enforcing, as appropriate, violations of aviation consumer protection, civil rights, and licensing requirements against airlines and ticket agents; and assessing the need for and drafting aviation consumer protection and civil rights regulations. Additional information and resources, including information on how to file a complaint with OACP, can be found here.
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According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, animals can provide essential aid to people with disabilities and varying health conditions. There are three types of assistance animals: service animals, emotional support animals and therapy animals. And dogs, cats and horses no longer rule the roost when it comes to assistance animals! Bunnies are hopping into the mix to provide physical and emotional support to people in need too.
Rabbits as Emotional Support Animals
The dog is commonly called “man’s best friend” but, as it turns out, rabbits can also make people pretty hoppy (well, that’s happy). Amy Pratt is a lifelong rabbit owner who has been specializing in rabbits at the Humane Rescue Alliance. Through her website, BunnyLady.com, Pratt outlines why many animal lovers find rabbits to be ideal emotional support animals. Rabbits are gentle, quiet, clean, don’t require much space and are receptive to training, among other positive attributes. Pratt reminds her website visitors that in order for rabbits (or any animal) to be certified as an emotional support pet, documentation must be signed by a licensed psychologist or therapist.
Many people impacted by emotional stress find rabbits to be calming. This includes those impacted by depression, PTSD, schizophrenia and other conditions, according to advocates like Sandra Lee Amidon and Rebecca Clawson who serve as educators for the House Rabbit Society. Headquartered in Richmond, California, this nonprofit animal welfare organization has a mission of rabbit rescue and education, which includes the promotion of rabbits as emotional support pets and/or therapy animals.
“A person with PTSD could benefit from petting a relaxed rabbit,” Clawson suggests. For example, she says, “Interacting with an adorable nose-wriggling, tooth-purring, relaxed rabbit who responds positively to gentle pets while the individual temporarily contains their own anxiety can be soothing and healing.”
credit: House Rabbit Society; photographer Paige K Parsons for House Rabbit Society (@paigekparsons)
Rabbits As Therapy Animals
Therapy animals are becoming increasingly popular in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and post-trauma or disaster settings. Animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals into a treatment plan, and is typically used to enhance or complement the benefits of more traditional therapy tactics.
Because patients’ needs are uniquely different, goals associated with animal-assisted therapy vary. For someone concentrating on mental health, for instance, benefits may include social development, increased self-esteem, better social skills and increased empathy and nurturing skills. For someone focused on physical gains, animal-assisted therapy may address flexibility, mobility, strength or other skills.
As a survivor of traumatic brain injury (TBI), Clawson personally attests to the impact that rabbits have had on her own therapeutic journey. “Caring for bunnies has helped me with my physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs. I’m able to work on balance and coordination when I get down on floor level to pet my bunnies and play with them or groom them. Picking up their supplies and toys, cleaning out litter boxes and shaking out their beds and blankets all help strengthen me too,” she declares.
And that’s not all. “I’m able to work on cognitive processing when I need to organize their veterinarian appointments and medication schedules and any changes in their diets or put together a supply order. I’m able to shut out any worry or anxiety and just focus on my rabbits being silly or napping peacefully,” Clawson, who resides in Utah, adds.
Clawson says she also enjoys interacting with and learning from other rabbit caregivers, rescuers and veterinary professionals because this motivates her to further tackle social anxiety. In addition to TBI survivors like Clawson, people with addiction, autism, dementia, multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury and many other diverse disabilities and conditions also find success using animal-assisted therapy, which may include interaction with or observation of rabbits.
Amidon explains, “They [rabbits] have a variety of different personalities, so finding one that suits each individual, their specific needs and their lifestyle is generally doable when done through a rescue organization that knows each rabbit’s personality, behaviors and medical needs well.” She continues, “Some rabbits do well sitting on your lap and being pet for periods of time which can be great for those who experience loneliness or lack of trust in relationships with others (though these rabbits aren’t as common as normally portrayed), while some have more playful personalities which allows a trusting relationship to be developed through things like clicker training and types of interaction that is more suited to those with sensory disorders/illnesses who are looking for companionship that doesn’t require exposure to sensory triggers.”
credit: House Rabbit Society; photographer Paige K Parsons for House Rabbit Society (@paigekparsons)
Clawson believes anyone who can safely interact with a pet may respond well to rabbits. “A person with occupational therapy needs could benefit by gently stroking a snuggly rabbit’s forehead or ears, or by brushing the rabbit’s fur. They could also work on dexterity by picking up a toy or treat and offering it to a rabbit,” she says. And Clawson further offers, “A person with weakness issues could benefit from playing apple stick tug-of-war with a rabbit. They just hold the apple stick while the rabbit tugs, wins and scampers off with their prize.”
Additionally, a person receiving speech therapy might benefit from reading out loud to an inquisitive rabbit or by practicing saying the rabbit’s name.
Before You Hop to It
Before adopting a rabbit to serve as an emotional support pet or a therapy animal, animal lovers should do detailed research to find the best fit.
During the Easter season, rabbit sales significantly increase; but, sadly, far too many rabbits (plus chicks and ducks) are then abandoned at shelters within weeks of the holiday. In fact, rabbits are the third most frequently surrendered animal at shelters and the third most euthanized. That’s why the House Rabbit Society works to combat the common misunderstanding that rabbits are just easy starter pets or simply holiday gifts for children observing Easter.
Rabbits can be wonderful pets and, as highlighted in this article, serve as excellent emotional support pets or therapy animals. However, as the House Rabbit Society notes, it’s important to consider the following before making a holiday-inspired impulse purchase:
Rabbits have an average lifespan of 8-14 years. Ownership is a commitment.
Rabbits need to be spayed/neutered to prevent cancer and unwanted litters. Up to 80% of female rabbits will develop uterine cancer by age 4-6 if not spayed.
Rabbits require a diet of hay, pellets and fresh vegetables.
Rabbits should live indoors, inside a family’s home for their safety and health, with 2-4 hours of exercise time in a bunny-proofed environment each day.
Rabbits need regular veterinary care by a vet with additional training in exotics, which can be expensive.
Rabbits need an annual RHDV2 vaccine.
Rabbits are not “low-maintenance” pets — they need as much care and attention as dogs and cats. It can also take longer to bond with them since they are prey animals and can be more fearful.
credit: Shutterstock
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According to estimates from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, approximately 1-in-44 children in the U.S. have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“Autism is a complex, lifelong brain difference that affects millions of children and families,” says Bicheng Han, founder and CEO of BrainCo Inc., a brain-computer interface (BCI) company that develops products and services for the U.S. and global markets in personal health and wellbeing, robotic prosthetics and STEM education. “BCI technology is beginning to show real potential in helping people manage and even overcome the impacts of this condition,” Han adds.
Autism Inventions Vary
A large body of research and study on current methodologies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Verbal Behavior Therapy (VBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Developmental and Individual Differences Relationship (DIR) Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) and others has shown that each of these approaches can help develop social and occupational skills in children with autism. Despite broad agreement that these interventions benefit children, it remains difficult to say which type of intervention is best for the individual and how much intervention is needed.
Through clinical trials with China Autism Rehabilitation Center, Shanghai Children’s Hospital and Beijing Children’s Hospital, BrainCo hopes to provide some answers to these questions.
credit: BrainCo Autism Training Center
New Autism Intervention Clinical Trial
BrainCo’s new initiative called, Cambridge StarKids Autism Rehabilitation Center, is deploying a new kind of autism intervention that combines a non-invasive EEG headband with computer-based games, activities and exercises. Used in conjunction with other behavioral therapies, the system allows therapists to gain new insights and understanding of the individual’s real-time brain activity and track their progress as they build skills such as learning how to interact with others, reading facial expressions and maintaining eye contact.
“We are excited to offer therapists an effective BCI-based tool in their efforts to help children around the world,” says Mr. Han. “As we get better and better at identifying this challenging neurological condition, it’s more important than ever to uncover new and more effective ways to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by it.” For more information, visit www.brainco.tech.
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The smell of spring is in the air. Blooming trees, fresh-cut grass and the crisp, clean scent of, wait, what is that? Marshmallow peeps, sugary fruit slices and matzah?!
Yes, they are here, too. And just like the daffodils, those delightfully decadent treats that come with Easter and Passover can simply not be denied.
Diabetic-Friendly Holidays
But, if you have Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) or a tiny T1D in the house, this time of year brings both squeals of excitement and gasps of deep concern. How much is too much?
As with anything, it’s all about moderation – and monitoring the carbohydrates. So as you enter these holiday days, keep the following carb counters within reach to make sure you – or those you love – are not consuming too much.
This time of year also brings a certain amount of adult toasting and glass clinking. Moderation is needed here, too, as alcohol also is loaded with hidden carbs — and other potential unwanted effects. So, keep this Drinking Safely with T1D tip sheet handy, too.
PRINT THIS Easter candy carb counter in English or Spanish.
credit: JDRF as a part of the JDRF-Beyond Type 1 Alliance
PRINT THIS Seder plate carb counter in English or Spanish.
credit: JDRF as a part of the JDRF-Beyond Type 1 Alliance
Since its founding in 1992, Donate Life America’s (DLA) mission has been to raise essential awareness surrounding organ donation with a vision focused on saving lives.
Celebrated annually in April, National Donate Life Month was established to educate and encourage individuals to register as organ, eye, tissue, marrow and blood donors ─ also referred to as living donors. This observance period is also a time to honor heroic donors, donors’ families, recipients, caregivers and the clinical teams within this lifesaving community.
Understanding the Critical Need
In 2021, thanks to the generosity of dedicated supporters, transplant experts performed more than 41,000 organ transplants in the U.S. — a record amount. Plus, DLA saw organ donations from deceased donors set an annual record for the 11th consecutive year. Living donor transplants, which decreased significantly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also increased with over 6,500 living donor transplants performed.
Yet, over 100,000 people are now waiting for an organ transplant, while thousands more await cornea and tissue transplants. Another person in dire need is added to these lists every nine minutes. Sadly, transplant waitlists include more than 1,900 children under the age of 18. Additionally, alarming data shows that people of color make up nearly 60 percent of individuals awaiting an organ transplant. That’s why DLA is prioritizing the promotion of greater diversity in organ donation. Collectively, we all can make a difference!
Remarkably, a single organ donor can save up to eight lives; and tissue donors can reach up to 75 individuals. With an average of 17 people dying every day while waiting for their transplant gift, there has never been a greater need to become a donor.
credit: Donate Life America
Consider Organ Donation
Becoming a living donor is an option for those who wish to give the gift of life while they are still living a healthy life. Not only do living donations save lives but it also expedites an otherwise uncertain waiting period for those in need of a transplant from a deceased donor.
Choosing to become a donor or to make the decision on a loved one’s behalf can, understandably, generate an array of questions and emotions. DLA has a full support team with branches that extend countrywide to guide those considering organ donation through each step within the donation and receiving process.
Around the U.S., families and organizations are being united through these vital donations. Recipients have a renewed sense of living and are given a second chance at life. For donor families who are coping with grief and the hardships of loss, knowing they are able to honor the legacy of their loved ones as they live on in others offers them a special sense of peace.
“Without the organ donor, there is no story, no hope, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope and a terrible loss becomes a gift” – United Network for Organ Sharing
Donate Life America will be launching its regional registration process for living donors sometime in 2022 to reach more prospective living donors. To become an organ donor, register at RegisterMe.org.
Users of the popular photo messaging app Snapchat can now access a brand new feature. Snap Inc. just launched (on April 5, 2022) the ASL Alphabet Lens which, as the social media company describes, is a first-of-its-kind Lens experience intended to inspire Snapchat’s 319 million users to start learning American Sign Language (ASL).
To build the originative product using augmented reality, Snap Inc. collaborated with SignAll, which develops cutting-edge tech for learning and translating sign language. This inclusive addition seems to be a natural expansion of the company’s effort to continually evolve opportunities for self-expression and connective communication.
Exclusively led by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing designers at Snap Inc., called the Deafengers, the ASL Alphabet Lens teaches users to fingerspell their name, practice the ASL Alphabet and play games that put newly learned ASL skills to the test. The feature was built using groundbreaking hand-tracking technology that powered last year’s fingerspelling Lenses in honor of International Week of the Deaf.
There are approximately 48 million Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people in the United States, according to the National Association of the Deaf. And now, thanks to the Deafengers, the social media app is working to bridge communication gaps through inclusion, accessibility and collaboration. A statement on Snap Inc.’s website read: “For native signers, in a world where linguistic inequity is prevalent, we believe AR can help evolve the way we communicate. We look forward to learning more from our community as we strive to continuously improve experiences for everyone on Snapchat.”
credit: Shutterstock
The launch of the app’s ASL Lens was spotlighted on NBC’s TODAY Show. Hopefully, viewers will soon see more disability-friendly advancements within the tech sector.
“This is a huge step forward,” Howard Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf, declared during TODAY’s segment. “It makes technology more accessible. And I hope that this sends a message to other tech companies. There is such a rich opportunity right in front of them to incorporate American Sign Language in a variety of ways.”
Accolades like that make it all worth it for the change-making designers at Snap Inc., such as Austin Vaday, who is one of the innovative Deafengers. “We want the world to understand that sign language is important, and that everyone signing is important,” Vaday shared with TODAY reporters. And shouldn’t we all want that?!
This isn’t the first time that Vaday has made significant strides to promote the use of ASL and disability inclusion as a whole. In 2018, he led a TEDx lecture titled “Sign Language is my Superpower.” Well, let’s hope Snapchatters are now more motivated than ever to also embody that superpower to help bridge the gap between our Deaf and hearing communities.
As a person with a disability, you may qualify for certain tax deductions, income exclusions, and credits. More detailed information may be found in the IRS publications referred to below.
When Ann Hanley was 49 years old, she noticed that she had persistent stiffness in her shoulders and her arms weren’t swinging normally when she walked. This became particularly pronounced when it affected her ability to travel to horse races with her husband, who manages a farm breeding champion racehorses. After visiting several specialists, a neurologist recognized she had Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The diagnosis was a shock, as Hanley had previously viewed PD as a disease that mainly affected older men. Initially, the idea of living with a progressive disease was overwhelming for Hanley — a self-described social butterfly — and so was maintaining her desire to be active.
PD is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative condition, affecting more than 1 million people nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it can’t be cured, medications are often prescribed to help manage symptoms. Unfortunately, some of these drugs are associated with side effects like involuntary movements and motor fluctuations. And over time, these medications can become less effective.
Now 63, Hanley is a veritable expert on her condition and an advocate for other patients. Seven years ago, she began volunteering at the University of Kentucky Hospital, shadowing a leading neurosurgeon who specialized in a PD treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which helps patients manage the motor symptoms of the disease when medication alone is no longer effective. DBS uses a small medical device implanted in the body and connected to leads that stimulate a portion of the brain to control the motor functions affected by movement disorders, including tremors, slowness and rigidity.
Ann Hanley, patient
Until recently, physicians have had to rely on older DBS technology. However, the Boston Scientific Vercise Genus DBS System, approved for use in 2021, is designed to customize therapy to match each patient’s specific needs and allow for flexible stimulation therapy delivery as the disease progresses. This is important, because PD advances over time, and no two people experience progressions the same way.
“Ultimately, with early enough intervention, DBS is a tool that can help people with PD reduce tremors, increase mobility, and even reduce the amount of medication needed — offering a reprieve from unpleasant side effects,” says Dr. Michele Tagliati, MD, director, Movement Disorders Program, Cedars Sinai (Los Angeles). “In particular, this therapy is designed with patient comfort and convenience in mind and gives physicians the ability to manage the ever-evolving needs of a patient as their Parkinson’s advances.”
Hanley knew it was time to try DBS herself when her walking had slowed, she was stooped over, her back hurt relentlessly and she was experiencing significant tremor in her right hand and leg. After undergoing the procedure, she was amazed at how DBS had helped her.
“When they turned on the device, I experienced an indescribable moment. My symptoms were suddenly reduced, and I felt more in control of my motion,” says Hanley.
With DBS, Hanley was able to completely come off her PD medications and experienced increased mobility. While results vary for different patients, she’s now able to walk, cycle and swim regularly, and attend every horse race with ease.
Today, Hanley is an advocate for DBS therapy and volunteers support to other patients, assisting during their appointments and even holding their hands during the DBS procedure. She’s also raised $3.5 million dollars through her fundraising efforts to support PD research at the University of Kentucky Hospital.
If you or a loved one have PD, consider talking to your doctor about the most appropriate treatment, and if DBS could be an option for you.
Source: StatePoint | Feature photo: Boston Scientific Corporation
A ketogenic diet, which primarily consists of foods like meat, fish, eggs, heavy cream, butter, oils and non-starchy vegetables — like pea pods, carrots, broccoli and peppers — may be safe for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). That is according to a preliminary study released on March 1, 2022, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 74th Annual Meeting set to be held in person in Seattle, April 2 to 7, 2022 and virtually, April 24 to 26, 2022. The preliminary study also found people with MS may experience less fatigue and depression and report an improved quality of life while on the diet.
“A ketogenic diet, which is high in fats, adequate in protein, and low in carbohydrates, allows the body to utilize fat as its primary source of energy instead of sugars, thus mimicking a fasting state,” said study author J. Nicholas Brenton, MD, of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “A ketogenic diet helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type II diabetes and improve seizure control in people with epilepsy. However, it has not been well-studied in people with MS. Diet changes can be an inexpensive way to improve overall health, so our study explored whether eating a ketogenic diet is safe, tolerable and beneficial for people living with MS.”
The study enrolled 65 people diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common form of the disease, marked by symptom flare-ups followed by periods of remission.
credit: Shutterstock
Study participants consumed a ketogenic diet for six months. They were instructed to consume two to three ketogenic meals per day consisting of one to two servings of low-carbohydrate proteins such as eggs, fish or meat alongside two to four tablespoons of fat, such as butter, oil, avocado, ghee or heavy cream, and one to two cups of non-starchy vegetables such as cucumbers, leafy greens or cauliflower. Snacks were also allowed as long as participants followed the maximum daily carbohydrate allowance of 20 grams. Adherence to the diet was monitored by daily urine tests to measure ketones, a metabolite produced by the body when it is burning fats. A total of 83% of participants adhered to the diet for the full study period.
Participants completed tests and surveys prior to the start of the diet and again at three and six months while on the diet to measure level of disability and quality of life.
Promising Results
Researchers found that not only did participants have less body fat after six months, they also had a decline in fatigue and depression scores.
On a quality-of-life survey, participants were asked questions like, “Did you have a lot of energy over recent weeks?” “Did you feel worn out?” “Have you been a happy person?” and “Have you felt downhearted and blue?” The survey provided a score for physical and mental health that can range from zero to 100, with higher scores representing better physical and mental health. Participants had an average physical health score of 67 at the start of the study compared to an average score of 79 at the end. Participants had an average mental health score of 71 at the start of the study compared to an average score of 82 at the end.
Scores also improved on a common MS disease progression test. On a scale of zero to 10, with a score of one representing no disability, two representing minimal disability and three representing moderate disability but still able to walk, the average participant score at the start of the study was 2.3 compared to 1.9 at the end. On a six-minute walking test, participants walked an average of 1,631 feet at the start of the study compared to 1,733 feet at the end.
Researchers also took blood samples and found participants had improvements in the levels of inflammatory markers in the blood.
photo: shutterstock
“Our study provides evidence that a ketogenic diet may indeed be safe and beneficial, reducing some symptoms for people with MS, when used over a six-month period,” said Brenton. “However, more research is needed because there are potential risks associated with ketogenic diets, such as kidney stones, digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies. It is important that people with MS consult with their doctor before making any big changes to their diet, and that they be regularly monitored by a physician and registered dietitian while on a ketogenic diet.”
A limitation of the study was the lack of a control group of people with MS who consumed their regular, non-ketogenic diet.
The study was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and the ZiMS Foundation.
