Expanding the Scope of Wellness Research in Multiple Sclerosis: Kathy Zackowski, PhD, OTR

WATCH TIME: 6 minutes

"We know people with MS have a lot of experience coping with the uncertainty that goes with having a variable, progressive disease, and they rely on the use of disease-modifying therapies. But they’re also really asking for approaches that are nonpharmacological, ‘are there things I can do right now to help with my wellness?’"

Wellness research in multiple sclerosis (MS) has gradually increased to focus on how nonpharmacological strategies are used to enhance quality of life and manage symptoms. Recent studies have underscored the benefits of interventions such as exercise, mindfulness, and psychoeducational programs. For example, a meta-analysis reported that exercise significantly improved balance, walking ability, fatigue, and overall quality of life in individuals with MS, with resistance and aerobic exercises being particularly effective.¹ Similarly, mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and fatigue, contributing to better mental and physical health outcomes.²

Moreover, psychoeducational wellness programs grounded in the biopsychosocial model have demonstrated efficacy in improving psychological well-being among people with MS. For instance, a study assessing a 10-week program reported significant reductions in depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and pain.³ These findings highlighted the importance of integrating wellness-focused interventions into standard MS care. However, further research may be needed to determine the most effective strategies and to tailor interventions to diverse populations in the MS community.

At the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, held May 28-31, in Phoenix, Arizona, expert Kathy Zackowski, PhD, OTR, spoke with NeurologyLive^®to further discuss the importance of advancing wellness research in the MS community, as she highlighted in her presentation at the meeting.⁴ Zackowski, associate vice president of research at the National MS Society, emphasized that although people with MS benefit from healthy behaviors, there is a lack of evidence to guide specific recommendations. In the interview, she noted that the Society's wellness research group is aiming to address this through targeted studies and recommendations to broaden the understanding of wellness to underserved populations and clarify which strategies work best for whom.

Click here for more coverage of CMSC 2025.

REFERENCES
1. Du L, Xi H, Zhang S, et al. Effects of exercise in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1387658. Published 2024 Apr 10. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1387658
2. Di Cara M, Grezzo D, Palmeri R, et al. Psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis: a descriptive review of the effects obtained with mindfulness interventions [published correction appears in Neurol Sci. 2022 Mar;43(3):2167. doi: 10.1007/s10072-021-05812-z.]. Neurol Sci. 2022;43(1):211-217. doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05686-1
3. McGuire KB, Stojanovic-Radic J, Strober L, Chiaravalloti ND, DeLuca J. Development and effectiveness of a psychoeducational wellness program for people with multiple sclerosis: description and outcomes. Int J MS Care. 2015;17(1):1-8. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2013-045
4. Zackowski K. Importance of Wellness Research Initiatives & Examples of How Research Translates into Practice. Presented at: 2025 CMSC Annual Meeting; May 28-31; Phoenix, AZ. Thriving with MS: Harnessing Wellness Research & the Power of Health Coaching.