One day in the mid-\u201990s, Montrealer Pierre B\u00e9rub\u00e9 realized he couldn\u2019t feel his left leg.<\/p>\n
A few months later, it happened again \u2014 only worse. <\/p>\n
\u201cI had much, much less strength, less sensation to touch, and my balance and co-ordination were affected as well,\u201d said B\u00e9rub\u00e9, 56. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just a nerve acting up \u2014 it was really something much more serious.\u201d <\/p>\n
In 1996, B\u00e9rub\u00e9 received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis \u2014\u00a0a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks the protective coating around nerve fibres \u2014\u00a0sparking fears about his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was completely blindsided,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen it\u2019s a disease that can be disabling, your mind immediately goes there.\u201d<\/p>\n
B\u00e9rub\u00e9 was swiftly transferred to the multiple sclerosis program at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where he has received his care ever since, allowing him to lead a relatively normal life. Thirty years later, he spoke of his gratitude through tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen service like this anywhere else in the health-care system,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to thank them.\u201d <\/p>\n
Over time, through his treatments, B\u00e9rub\u00e9\u2019s symptoms have remained relatively stable. They\u2019re mainly related to energy levels; his left leg, to which he must pay extra attention while walking; and, most recently, some cognitive decline. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot at the beginning, but now I notice that concentration is more difficult,\u201d he said. \u201cThe same goes for memory. I have to take a lot more notes.\u201d <\/p>\n
In the time since B\u00e9rub\u00e9 received his diagnosis, treatment for MS has drastically improved. For the first 18 years, he was given injections of interferons \u2014 signalling proteins the body naturally produces as a defence mechanism against pathogens \u2014 three times a week. <\/p>\n
\u201cThose flu-like sensations? You experience them every three days,\u201d B\u00e9rub\u00e9 said. <\/p>\n
Following a relapse in 2014, he was able to take a daily pill instead, and, as of 2025, receives an injection of monoclonal antibodies once a month, with no side effects, aside from immunosuppression.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a very big shift over the past 10 years,\u201d said Dr. Alexander Saveriano, B\u00e9rub\u00e9\u2019s treating neurologist and the fellowship director\u00a0in MS and neuroinflammatory disorders at the Neuro. \u201cThankfully, we\u2019re at a point now where we have much more effective treatment.\u201d <\/p>\n
In 2026, relapsing-remitting MS \u2014 the most common and treatable form, which is what B\u00e9rub\u00e9 has \u2014 can be managed well if caught early, Saveriano explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really about trying to stop the disease in its tracks as best we can to try to prevent further injury to the brain,\u201d he said. \u201cThe new treatments are very effective at doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
B\u00e9rub\u00e9 experiences relapses on average every three years, which can look like waking up one day and not being able to type on a keyboard properly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be more fatigued, I\u2019ll feel numbness in my arm, and even more numbness in my leg,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s when things become very anxiety-provoking, and you feel extremely vulnerable.\u201d <\/p>\n
But the Neuro provides care almost immediately in the form of steroid treatments, said B\u00e9rub\u00e9, who tenderly mentioned each member of his care team by name. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing is, relapses can happen almost overnight,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in that vulnerable state, they\u2019re incredibly responsive. \u2026 They know that the sooner you start steroids, the sooner you can recover from an attack.\u201d <\/p>\n
In addition to providing treatment to manage the effects of MS on the body, the hospital also provides multi-layered care to help manage symptoms, complete with professionals like physiotherapists and occupational therapists. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that that\u2019s absolutely what we strive for, is that comprehensive care where patients feel supported along this journey,\u201d Saveriono said. \u201cFrom diagnosis, which is a huge shock to most people, and then all the way through as they deal with the ups and downs of the disease.\u201d <\/p>\n
The exact cause of MS is unknown, Saveriano explained. There are a number of theories, such as that it might be triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus or a vitamin D deficiency. <\/p>\n
\u201cCountries that are further from the equator have higher rates of MS,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Genetics also play a role, but \u201cno single gene is responsible for MS,\u201d Saveriano said. \u201cIt seems to be a combination of genetics, environment, and possibly viral exposure.\u201d <\/p>\n
When it comes to MS treatment today, one of the challenges that remains is stopping the progressive side of the disease, he said. While the relapsing part \u2014\u00a0with sudden episodes \u2014 can be treated effectively in most people, gradual progression over the years is \u201ca bit harder to treat, and that is still an unmet need in MS care.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saveriano added some of the treatments being investigated at the Neuro seem promising.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere definitely is more hope,\u201d Saveriano said, adding at the hospital, health professionals work closely with scientists who devote most of their time to research.<\/p>\n
Both teams being in the same place \u201creally serves as a breeding ground for advancing the science,\u201d he said. \u201cThose channels of communication are always open \u2026 so I think that really helps us.\u201d <\/p>\n
Yuan Ding, a researcher at the Neuro and McGill University, hopes to advance early screening for MS so patients can start preventive treatments before neurological damage from the disease even begins. He was inspired to pursue MS research because his girlfriend is a patient.<\/p>\n
In a recent study published in Annals of Neurology, Ding showed MS-specific proteins in the blood may be detectable years before the clinical onset of the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hope is that this one day, this could be translated into something like a blood test,\u201d said Ding, who researches under the supervision of Dr. Adil Harroud. <\/p>\n
As it stands, diagnosis typically involves MRIs and lumbar punctures after neurological damage has begun, Ding explained. <\/p>\n
He added the Neuro is collecting samples from MS patients to see if the results of the study, which was based on blood from the UK Biobank, can be replicated.<\/p>\n
B\u00e9rub\u00e9 himself has also participated in a study at the clinic, which he explained focused on the relationship between physical activity and energy levels in MS patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis study showed me that the more physically active you are, the more energy you can have,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Prioritizing nutrition has also helped with his energy levels over the years. <\/p>\n
Despite the challenges that inevitably come with having an autoimmune disease, B\u00e9rub\u00e9 said he feels like he\u2019s happier now than he would have been had he not had MS.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you quickly realize that now you have to make the most of life,\u201d he said. \u201cYou do everything you can, and you can also trust science to help you live a life like everyone else. That gives you the energy to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n