Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that is associated with a wide range of symptoms, including diminished cognitive function, emotional dysregulation, and fatigue. Unfortunately, there is no cure for MS to date. Nonetheless, recent evidence shows that exercise may have positive effects on symptoms and disease progression. The problem is that there is a lack of research investigating the effects of exercise in a detrimental, sub-population of MS- Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)- using neuroimaging and clinical measures together. The goal of the proposed research is to examine symptom presentations and microstructural features of neuronal connections in a group of patients with PPMS before and after a weekly exercise intervention. This study could have significant implications for the management of MS symptoms and overall improved quality of life. Given that pharmaceutical treatments to delay progressive neurodegeneration in PPMS have been unsuccessful, the proposed study has the potential to change the first-line intervention for individuals with PPMS. If there is evidence that exercise leads to changes in brain structure, paralleled by symptom changes, the knowledge translation to physicians and other health care professionals could ensure that patients with PPMS are encouraged to implement exercise as part of rehabilitation (thereby providing a no-cost, evidence-based intervention). The ultimate goal is to help individuals with MS to build a better quality of life, for instance with reduced fatigue and depression, and increased cognitive function by protecting the brain from the degenerative effects of MS through exercise. This research has the ability to change lives of individuals with MS across Canada and globally.