SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Exercise and Brain Health in Multiple Sclerosis SS4

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease that is associated with multisystemic consequences including symptoms, functional impairments, and compromised quality of life.

Though disease-modifying therapies are effective for arresting the disease process and preventing relapses, these pharmacotherapies are not designed to address the multisystemic consequences of the disease. Thus, rehabilitation, particularly exercise training, has been identified as a potent and powerful approach for addressing the multisystemic consequences of MS. There is increasing interest in the consideration of brain health as a critical target for exercise training to maximize potential benefits on symptoms, function, and quality of life amongst those living with the disease.

This symposium will first define brain health for persons with MS based on the consideration of several conceptual frameworks. This will be followed by presentations of the published evidence on exercise effects on brain health in MS over the past 20 years as well as ongoing efforts to maximize brain health with exercise in MS. The symposium will conclude by identifying potential future directions for moving the field forward and improving the lives of patients that will have direct relevance for researchers and clinicians alike.