2008 Year in Review

Rockford Medical School Seeks People with MS for Study

Residents of Northwestern Illinois with multiple sclerosis (MS) are being asked to participate in a state-funded study to determine the number of area persons with the disease. MS results when the immune system attacks myelin, the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system affecting coordination, balance and vision.

Previous research by Health Systems Research has indicated that some portions of Northwestern Illinois may have elevated rates of MS.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is one of a handful of research centers studying the epidemiology of MS.

Study participants must:
• Be 18 or older
• Have lived in Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Henry, Jo Daviess, La Salle, Lee, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside or Winnebago County on July 1, 2008.
• Have been diagnosed with MS by a health professional.

To take part in the study or to obtain further information, individuals may:
• Enroll at the study web site College of Medicine at Rockford
• Call Health Systems Research toll-free at (800)-854-4461 for a participant form.
• Attend a meeting where study background will be presented. Call or email hsr@uic.edu for a schedule of meetings.

Joel Cowen, Assistant Dean for Health Systems Research stresses the importance of full participation: “Unless almost everyone with MS takes part, we will not be able to accurately calculate the presence of MS.”

Cowen says that they will link demographic, socioeconomic and environmental factors to the distribution of MS to see whether certain characteristics may be associated with MS. By studying a large region, researchers expect to find that some areas may be higher than others. Names of study participants will be kept confidential. Reports will reflect all participants, but no individual information will be shown.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 2, 2008