The injectable poison that’s all the rage among the youthful beauty-seeking set may have another medical benefit that goes beyond a treatment for vanity. A recent Australian medical study published in Neurology suggests that Botox injections could ameliorate arm tremors caused by multiple sclerosis, Fox News reported.
Botox works its magic on wrinkles by blocking nerve signals and relaxing muscles under the skin, both of which have the potential to mitigate MS symptoms. Arm tremors join the lineup of conditions that have found relief with Botox, which has also been approved to treat migraines, excessive sweating, overactive bladder and muscles spasms in the arms.
Up to two-thirds of patients with multiple sclerosis experience arm tremors, which often affect their ability to write. For this study, researchers injected a small sample, 23 MS patients, with Botox and the study participants experienced less severe arm tremors and an improvement in their ability to write.
Researchers are reluctant to herald Botox’s wonder properties just yet, but they are encouraged that treatments show promise. More detailed studies need to be conducted to determine the long-term effects and frequency of Botox treatments.
Though the study itself was funded by the Box Hill MS Research Fund and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Fox News reported that the materials for the study were furnished by Botox maker Allergan, and two of the study’s researchers are connected to Allergan, possibly casting doubt on the objectivity of the study.
This raises additional concerns in light of Monday’s news about GalaxoKlineSmith’s $3 billion healthcare fraud settlement, where the pharmaceutical company allegedly fabricated medical research and articles to support their marketing initiatives to repurpose their drugs for multiple conditions.
Follow Elise Rambaud Marrion on Twitter @emarrion_cmn.
Facebook Comments