FATIGUE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Trainee: Nicolas Royer (PhD Student)
Collaborators: Prof Jean-Philippe Camdessanché (Saint-Etienne Hospital)
SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune chronic disease targeting myelin of the central nervous system. Among the manifestations caused by the disease, fatigue is the most common and disabling symptom, being reported by 55% to 78% of MS patients. The etiology of MS, however, remains poorly understood. A higher fatigability in MS patients, due to impaired neuromuscular function, could contribute to this phenomenon by restraining daily life activities. Pharmacological treatments remain ineffective in preventing or treating chronic fatigue. However, physical activity has proven to be an effective therapy with benefits on chronic fatigue as well as on different functions (muscular, cardiorespiratory, cognitive, etc.). Our project aims at characterizing the causes of chronic fatigue in MS patients using a multifactorial assessment, but focusing primarily on neuromuscular function. A better knowledge of chronic fatigue etiology will allow to optimize physical rehabilitation treatments to decrease perceived fatigue and improve life quality.
Key words: Multiple Sclerosis, fatigue, neuromuscular function, thermoregulation, cardiorespiratory function, exercise.