Prioritizing Brain Health in NMOSD Beyond Disease-Modifying Therapies: Sumaira Ahmed

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

"I want to see more education and awareness around why it's so important to exercise, even a little bit—even if it's just walking a little every day—how that sort of keeps your brain alive and well.”

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a chronic autoimmune condition that primarily affects the optic nerves and spinal cord, but growing evidence shows it also impacts brain health. Data has shown that cognitive impairment, particularly in areas such as attention, memory, and processing speed, can impact up to 70% of individuals with NMOSD, even outside of acute relapses.¹ These deficits may be linked to structural brain changes and can significantly diminish quality of life, making cognitive health a crucial focus in comprehensive NMOSD management.

Although pharmacologic therapies could be essential for patients, optimizing brain health in NMOSD may require attention to modifiable lifestyle factors that support cognitive resilience. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation and enhance neuroplasticity.² Likewise, dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet have been associated with slower cognitive decline and better brain function.³ Quality sleep also could play a vital role in clearing neurotoxic waste from the brain, reducing the risk of long-term cognitive dysfunction. Together, these lifestyle interventions offer valuable, noninvasive tools for enhancing brain health alongside disease-modifying treatments in NMOSD care.

At the 2025 Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum, held February 27 to March 1, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sumaira Ahmed, founder and executive director of the Sumaira Foundation, sat down with NeurologyLive^® to share her perspective on the importance of brain health for managing neurological conditions like NMOSD. She discussed often-overlooked lifestyle factors such as sleep quality, regular exercise, and mindful nutrition as foundational to maintaining cognitive and emotional well-being. In the conversation, Ahmed called for broader education and awareness around these nonpharmacologic strategies to support holistic patient care in NMOSD.

Click here for coverage of 2025 ACTRIMS Forum.

REFERENCES
1. Oertel FC, Schließeit J, Brandt AU, Paul F. Cognitive Impairment in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Clinical and Neuroradiological Features. Front Neurol. 2019;10:608. Published 2019 Jun 12. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00608
2. Baranowski BJ, Marko DM, Fenech RK, Yang AJT, MacPherson REK. Healthy brain, healthy life: a review of diet and exercise interventions to promote brain health and reduce Alzheimer's disease risk. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2020;45(10):1055-1065. doi:10.1139/apnm-2019-0910
3. Marchand NE, Jensen MK. The Role of Dietary and Lifestyle Factors in Maintaining Cognitive Health. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;12(4):268-285. Published 2017 Apr 11. doi:10.1177/1559827617701066