Diabetes drug may help multiple sclerosis patients

CHICAGO Recent studies showed that an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of diabetes may help treat patients suffering from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Researchers found patients who took Actos (pioglitazone), used to treat Type 2 diabetes, experienced an atrophy of gray matter over the one-year span.

"This is very encouraging," said Douglas Feinstein, research professor of anesthesiology at University of Illinois at Chicago. "Gray matter in the brain is the part that is rich in neurons. These preliminary results suggest that the drug has important effects on neuronal survival."

A decrease in the loss of gray matter could improve MS symptoms, including such cognitive issues as thinking, memory and judgment. Further tests of other drugs within the thiazolidinediones class are taking place.

The study was published in Journal of Neuroimmunology.