Seek out some winter sunshine to bump up your Vitamin D

Seek out some winter sunshine to bump up your Vitamin D

Welcome to winter,  which means the trees have shed their leaves, the temperature has dropped and your heating bill is probably on the rise. It also means, as  the shortest day of the year approaches, you might be getting up in  the dark and arriving home in the dark.

This is of interest to us at Menzies because of our large number of projects looking at multiple sclerosis, which has a higher incidence in Tasmania than any other Australian State.

Menzies has been researching the association between UV exposure and multiple sclerosis since 1998, publishing landmark research showing that low vitamin D and low UV exposure are risk factors of MS, and that the age at which symptoms of multiple sclerosis first start is strongly linked to latitude.

Menzies laboratory scientists and clinical researchers are working towards better treatments in work funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and MS Research Australia. We are continuing to study the prevention and progression
of the disease through large  studies where people with MS are followed over time.

We are also looking at the cost-effectiveness of interventions and the financial cost of MS to individuals and society.

With such a large program of research in place, Menzies is now ready to extend its MS work into what is known as translation research. This phase is the point at which published findings from researchers around the world are brought together and implemented as quickly as possible for the people who need them – those who are living with MS. The delivery of this work requires the integration of researchers, clinicians, policy makers, caregivers and people living with MS.

Our aim is to make it easier to work together to turn new findings and existing knowledge into better lives for people with MS.

You can veiw the rest of our Winter Bulletin stories here.

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