In MS, the brain's own stem cells retain the capacity to repair myelin throughout life, but this regenerative ability declines with age. Understanding why remyelination fails, and how to reverse this failure, is one of the most important open questions in MS research. Many people with progressive MS, who tend to be older, currently have no treatments to stop their disability from worsening.

The group investigates how biological ageing, the pace at which a person's body ages rather than simply the number of years they have lived, affects myelin repair, nerve health and clinical outcomes. The group looks at samples collected over time from research studies and clinical trials. By analysing DNA and blood markers, they estimate a person’s biological age and see how this links to how well their body can repair itself and respond to treatment. This work aims to identify who is most likely to benefit from remyelinating therapies, and to find new ways to help the body keep or regain its ability to repair across the lifespan.

Supporting this research will pave the way for myelin repair treatments that work for people of all ages living with MS.