From research to real lives: the history of Overcoming MS

Overcoming MS is the world’s leading multiple sclerosis healthy lifestyle charity. We exist to help you take control of your health, based on clear, evidence-based lifestyle recommendations you can trust. 

Our story is rooted in decades of scientific research – from the pioneering work of Professor Roy Swank in the 1940s to the groundbreaking insights of Professor George Jelinek in the late 1990s and beyond. Together, their research has built a strong foundation for the Overcoming MS Program you see today. 

A brief history of multiple sclerosis

The condition we now know as multiple sclerosis (MS) has been recognised for centuries. Reports suggest that as far back as the 14th century,  St Lidwina of Schiedam in Holland experienced symptoms we might now associate with MS. 

Medical understanding began to take shape in the mid-1800s when researchers Robert Carswell and Jean Cruveilhier documented the scarring or lesions found on the brain and spine we now recognise as MS. In 1868, neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot described MS in detail for the first time, marking the start of modern MS research. 

By the mid-20th century, scientists had discovered the role of myelin, the protective coating around nerves, and linked its damage to MS symptoms. In the 1960s, MS was understood as an autoimmune condition. 

Professor Roy Swank – the diet connection

In 1949, Professor Roy Swank, an American neurologist and academic, made a striking observation. While researching in Norway, he found that coastal communities, who ate more fish and less saturated fat, had far lower rates of MS than inland communities who ate more meat and dairy. 

This led to his landmark 34-year study of 144 people with MS, comparing those who followed a low saturated fat diet with those who didn’t. The results were extraordinary: 

• 95% of people who stuck to the diet were alive and active three decades later. 
• In contrast, only 7% of those who didn’t follow the diet were active, and 81% had passed away by the end of the study. 
• A 50-year follow-up confirmed that those still sticking to the diet were doing remarkably well into their 70s and 80s. 

These findings were among the earliest and most powerful evidence linking diet and long-term health outcomes in MS – a key building block of the Overcoming MS Program today. 

Professor George Jelinek – from diagnosis to a global movement

In 1999, Professor George Jelinek, an Australian doctor, was diagnosed with MS. Having seen his mother’s difficult journey with the condition, he was determined to find a better way forward. 

He turned to the scientific literature and reviewed over 940 research papers. This work became the book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis. 

Professor Jelinek identified key lifestyle factors – diet, vitamin D, exercise, meditation, and medication and began running live-in retreats to share these insights with others living with MS. 

Linda Bloom attended one of these early retreats in Australia. When she moved to the UK she noticed a gap in the provision of a lifestyle-based approach in MS management, and in 2011 began promoting the Overcoming MS approach. She established the Overcoming MS charity in June 2012. 

Further research

At the very first retreat, participants were asked to complete a validated questionnaire,  which was then used in follow-up studies to measure the long-term impact of the Program. These follow-ups at 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 years formed the basis of the STOP-MS (Studying Outcomes of People attending MS retreats) study. 

By the time the study concluded in 2013, the results showed clear benefits for people living with MS who had attended retreats: 

• Overall quality of life improved by 19% 
• Physical health scores improved by 18% 
• Mental health scores improved by 23% 

In 2012, Professor Jelinek established the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) at the University of Melbourne to expand the scientific evidence base for lifestyle approaches to MS. The NEU’s first major project was the HOLISM (Health Outcomes and Lifestyle in a Sample of people with Multiple Sclerosis) study, the first large-scale, international observational study of lifestyle factors in people with MS. 

In 2015, he established the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) at the University of Melbourne to expand the scientific evidence base for lifestyle approaches to MS. The NEU has since continued and grown the HOLISM study, alongside new research projects, to deepen understanding of how lifestyle changes can improve long-term health outcomes for people with MS. 

The HOLISM study demonstrated strong links between healthier lifestyles and better quality of life, fewer relapses, and lower disability levels. It also reinforced the earlier findings from Professor Swank’s pioneering work, showing that when lifestyle changes are applied together, their benefits are even greater. 

Today, the NEU continues this vital research under the leadership of Dr Jeannette Reece, building on the HOLISM dataset and conducting new studies to further understand and strengthen the role of lifestyle in living well with MS. 

Overcoming MS today

Since 2012, Overcoming MS has grown into a vibrant, global community. We provide trusted information, support, and connection so people with MS can live well for the long term. 

Through the Overcoming MS Program, we share the tools, knowledge, and encouragement to help you make sustainable lifestyle changes – and feel confident about your future. 

You can get an introduction to the Program through our free Discover Sessions, connect to our community in our free platform, the Live Well Hub, or join the 6 Months to Overcoming MS course  to start making changes today.