New medication shows promising results to stop progression of Multiple Sclerosis

Sarah Maurer was 23 years old when her body went numb from the neck down.

"I couldn't brush my own hair. I had no control over my hands," said Sarah Maurer.

Soon after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. With no cure, the only remedy is medicine and research.

According to a recent study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, each MS relapse impacts what's stored in a patient's brain reserve. This could be why MS patients have a tougher time understanding social cues.

"I have a harder time picking up sarcasm from my 15-year-old. He says, mom I'm joking," said Maurer.

While Maurer took medication for MS, her relapses and symptoms continued. Thanks to recent medical advancements, she now takes a new pill and it is working.

"When I had my MRI in 2016, I had enhancing lesions and new lesions and that was scary. I had an MRI in March; nothing enhancing and nothing new," said Maurer.

Dr. Augusto Miravalle says there are now 15 approved medications doctors can use to stop multiple sclerosis from getting worse.

"With our therapies, we pretty much expect nothing new. So, no new legions in the brain, and no relapses or no clinical attacks as well as no evidence of disease progression," Dr. Miravalle.

Maurer's advice to others in her shoes is to keep a fighting spirit--the one thing a disease cannot control.

"I just do my best to stay more than two steps ahead of it. Catch me if you can," said Maurer.