What is NMO?
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) occur when the immune system mistakes normal tissues of the central nervous system as being foreign. As a result, the immune system attacks these tissues, making proteins (called antibodies) and recruiting immune system cells that can harm otherwise healthy parts of the central nervous system.
Often, because CNS tissues are rich in a protein called aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the initial attack targets the nerves of the eyes and other parts of the central nervous system, which include the brain and spinal cord.
Once thought to be a type of multiple sclerosis (MS), NMO and NMOSD are variants of a distinctive but rare autoimmune disease. NMO is not MS. Click here to learn more.
Dr. Sean Pittock of the Mayo Clinic explores the causes behind NMO.
What Are The Symptoms of NMO?
The symptoms of NMO can vary from person to person in disability, duration and severity. However, NMO is most commonly characterized by optic neuritis (ON) that affects eye function, and/or transverse myelitis (TM) that affects limb function.
Generally, NMO symptoms begin rapidly. After the initial attack, NMO follows an unpredictable course, and time to remission can vary. Recurring episodes of optic neuritis and/or transverse myelitis can be weeks to months in duration, and in some very unusual cases can last years. However, much more often these symptoms are temporary and resolve fully or partially, usually after a course of treatment.
Symptoms Explained
NMO symptoms may develop quickly — even within a few hours — increase over the course of a few days and then plateau. Symptoms may improve over weeks and months with treatment.
Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, University of Colorado, Denver, explores the symptoms of NMO.
CURESHOT™
What Treatment Options are Available?
A key mission of the GJCF is to catalyze the discovery or development of treatments that advance to be proven safe and effective in NMO through clinical trials. While just a few years ago there were none, the good news is that there are multiple now clinical trials in progress testing therapies in NMO. There is great hope that these clinical trials will progress such that one or more drugs may soon be approved to treat NMO.
We encourage you to explore our resources below, including our list of expert doctors, information on available clinical trials, and more.
Pioneering a New Scientific Research Model
Reese Witherspoon explores the history of the foundation and our revolutionary approach to solving Neuromyelitis Optica.