Unlocking
the Puzzle of Progression
by Holly O’Dell
The puzzle is big and full of missing
pieces. Today, teams of researchers
around the planet are combining
their efforts to change that.
Tom Whitney exhibited signs
of MS in spring 2001: Lack of
coordination, a feeling of unbalance and difficulty walking. That
summer, doctors diagnosed the
Minnesota resident with MS after
reviewing the results of a spinal
tap, evoked potential tests and
two MRIs, which showed lesions
on the brain and cervical spine.
© AINA
“Brain Bouquet”
His neurologist prescribed a
disease-modifying drug, but
after 18 months, the only change
Whitney noticed was the worsening of his symptoms—most
noticeably, increased spasticity of
the legs. He was then prescribed a
