MS therapy: Revolutionary brain treatment developed in Qld

Jette Beek has been involved in a clinical trial for a new therapy for multiple sclerosis - it helped her temporarily.

Brisbane mother of two Jette Beek, 48, was diagnosed with MS in January 2023.

Queensland is leading the world with a revolutionary new therapy giving hope of “maintaining or repairing” the symptoms of people living with multiple sclerosis.

Clinical trials of transcranial magnetic stimulation are under way at Mater Hospital Brisbane with the TAURUS.2 study targeting brain cells with electromagnetic waves.

The research, initiated by internationally recognised Dr Carlie Cullen, is a collaboration involving more than 100 participants in six Australian sites who undertake intensive treatment.

Doctors believe TMS has the potential to significantly relieve some of the main symptoms of MS.

The disease, which has no cure, is commonly diagnosed in those aged 20 to 40 and in Australia affects three times more women than men.

Mater Hospital Brisbane director of neurosciences Andrew Swayne said the therapy had the potential to enable MS patients to regain or improve their quality of life.

“It ventures into an area that, so far, has proven out of reach for the MS population – maintaining or repairing health status,” said Dr Swayne, who also leads Mater Research’s neuroimmunology research group.

“This trial is … unique and is hopefully heralding a whole new era in MS where this technology and other technologies will be used to try and achieve, in time, remyelination or neuronal healing as part of the disease management.”

Mater clinical research co-ordinator Tamara Powell uses the electromagnetic coil on Jette Beek.

Thanks to community support, Mater Foundation has funded the stage 2 clinical trial, which is a world first.

The trial is measuring the effects of TMS on MS patients.

Brisbane mother of two Jette Beek, 48, was diagnosed with MS in January 2023 after experiencing “out of the blue” tingling in her left thumb and index finger.

“This quickly got worse; my whole left hand got really numb and tingly and soon my thumb and index fingers were completely paralysed,” Mrs Beek said.

An MRI revealed she had a lesion in her neck and her doctor suspected it was MS.

“I couldn’t hold a pen or a fork, my hand was useless. I felt like my body was falling apart and there was nothing I could do to stop it,” Mrs Beek said.

“The trial was life-changing in terms of fatigue. I’ve never felt so good since my diagnosis.

“Shortly after commencing, I stopped sleeping during the day. I felt so much better, both physically and mentally.”

Mrs Beek hoped the changes were permanent however, a few weeks after her last trial session, her fatigue returned.

“MS never goes away and I’m aware of it every hour of the day,” she said.

“Every day I get strange and uncomfortable sensations, sometimes I feel like my legs are trembling but then nothing is visible from the outside.”

Mater’s TAURUS.2 clinical trial team includes research co-ordinator Tamara Powell, Dr Reuben Beer, Dr Andrew Swayne and Dr Carlie Cullen.