CMSC 2026: The Latest Developments in MS Care

The 40th annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), held from May 27 to 29, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, served as a vibrant hub for the latest developments in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and clinical practice. This year’s gathering, highlighted by the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC) and NeurologyLive, emphasized a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to care, spanning everything from high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and metabolic health into the neurology clinic.

Advancing High-Efficacy and Specialized Care

A central theme of the meeting was the continued refinement of high-efficacy therapy (HET) use across diverse populations. Patricia Coyle, MD, shared late-breaking data from the ASCLEPIOS I/II trials, focusing on a subgroup of people with highly active relapsing MS. Her analysis explored how early HET strategies impact relapse control and long-term disease management, particularly in patients with aggressive disease characteristics.

Significant updates were also presented regarding younger and older cohorts:

• Pediatric MS: Real-world data from the MSBase Registry reinforced that ocrelizumab maintains similar effectiveness and safety in children with MS compared with young adults with MS. Investigators, including Helmut Butzkueven, PhD, MBBS, noted that pediatric patients showed significantly greater confirmed disability improvement over follow-up, suggesting that adult safety and efficacy data are generalizable to younger populations.
• Aging MS: For patients aged 50 and older, Amy Gutierrez, MD, presented a subgroup analysis of cladribine, examining infection risk and lymphocyte dynamics in this growing demographic to help clinicians balance efficacy with age-related safety concerns.
• Pregnancy management: Kristen Krysko, MD, presented reassuring data from the Roche Global Safety Database, used to evaluate over 800 pregnancies with ocrelizumab exposure near the time of conception. The findings suggested no increased risk of major adverse pregnancy outcomes or congenital malformations.

In the realm of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, first author Elias Sotirchos, MD, presented a poster on real-world evidence from the NMO SPOTLIGHT analysis. The data demonstrated the strong clinical benefit of C5 inhibitors eculizumab and ravulizumab in preventing relapses, with some patients successfully switching from B-cell depletion to complement inhibition.

The Emerging Role of GLP-1s and Metabolic Health

One of the most discussed hot topics was the intersection of metabolic health and MS, specifically the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s). A poster from first author Karl D. Heward, MD, presented retrospective data showing that GLP-1 initiation was associated with a significant increase in physical activity—from 52.3 to 115.7 minutes per week—and improvements in patient-reported outcomes for anxiety, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and sensory symptoms.

However, in the Clinical Courses session GLP1-RA Meets MS: Why, How, What’s Next, clinicians urged a measured approach. While Lisa Fox, PA-C, noted that “a higher body mass is associated with more gray matter volume loss,” from the audience, Theodore Brown, MD, reminded attendees that neurologists may face a steep learning curve regarding insurance restrictions and monitoring for adverse effects like gastrointestinal motility issues. Another session presenter, Libby Levine, MSN, AGNP-BC, MSCN, suggested that because GLP-1s are in the “zeitgeist,” they provide a useful bridge to discuss weight loss with people with MS. Finally, presenter Donald Langan, MD, PharmD, reminded attendees that this area is still developing rapidly by saying, “This talk would be different if I gave it in a year….”

Digital Frontiers: AI and Cognitive Rehabilitation

AI is moving beyond hype into practical clinical applications. In the Whitaker Invited Lectures session, Moein Amin, MD, discussed how AI can harmonize MRI scans between different machines and even use digital twins to run risk-free simulations of different treatment strategies. Despite the potential, he cautioned that AI is a tool with limitations, including concerns about validation, bias, and accountability.

Cognitive health remained a priority, with discussions focusing on:

• Screening: Elizabeth Gromisch, PhD, addressed the practical barriers to routine cognitive screening, such as time constraints and the need for technician-independent digital tools.
• Rehabilitation: Cecilia Meza, MA, presented a secondary analysis of the CogEx trial showed that computerized cognitive training using the RehaCom platform can improve processing speed, especially through modules focused on attention and concentration.

The Power of Research-Integrated Care

Another highlight was the importance of making research a foundational part of clinical practice rather than a sideline activity. In the session Driving Discovery in MS: The Power ofResearch-Integrated Care, Dawn Carle, RN, BScN; Mark Freedman, HBSc MSc, MD, CSPQ, FANA, FAAN, FRCPC; and Tammy Pham, BSc, MSc, MPAS, emphasized that research integrated into the clinical workflow allows patients faster access to emerging technologies and more rigorous monitoring than standard care typically provides using their own clinic at the Ottawa Hospital as an example.

Reflecting on the meeting’s spirit in a LinkedIn Live, Francois Bethoux, MD, editor in chief of IJMSC, highlighted the unique multidisciplinary community at CMSC. He noted his excitement as a judge for a rehabilitation engineering competition, where students designed assistive devices for people with disabilities. As Dr. Bethoux summarized, the meeting’s strength lies in its sense of community: “We’re part of a small world, MS health care providers. Some of us see a few MS patients and some of us see only MS patients, but the passion is the same and we love to connect.... We're just all here to achieve the mission” of providing comprehensive care.

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