A panel of experts sit on a stage

Our approach to research and evidence

We combine the latest scientific research with insights from our community. This helps us understand how lifestyle can support people with MS. Our aim is to ensure our services are effective, credible, and based on the best evidence available.

As the world’s leading MS and lifestyle charity, we ground our work in scientific evidence. 

Research over several decades suggests that healthy lifestyle habits can make a meaningful difference for people with MS. Studies consistently show that: 

  • Regular movement is linked with improved mobility, strength and cognitive function. 
  • A whole-food, plant-based diet low in saturated fat may support better health and reduce inflammation. 
  • Higher vitamin D levels are associated with a lower risk of relapses. 
  • Stress reduction and emotional wellbeing can influence MS symptoms and quality of life. 
  • Combining lifestyle strategies with medical treatment may offer the greatest benefit.  

You can find out more about our recommendations here. We focus on advancing MS and lifestyle by tracking the latest research, rigorously evaluating our services and publishing the results, and collaborating and connecting with experts around the world. 

A white man in a wheel chair talks with another man

Making the case for lifestyle change 

At Overcoming MS, we gather and share the growing evidence base on how lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress management can improve clinical outcomes for people with MS. We believe that empowering individuals starts with providing trustworthy, evidence-based information. 

Our recommendations come from high-quality evidence, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). These are the gold standards for evaluating effectiveness. However, RCTs can be difficult in lifestyle research due to practical and ethical issues. So, we also use data from strong observational studies and other solid research to ground our recommendations. 

As the evidence base for MS and lifestyle evolves, we stay committed to learning, adapting, and promoting progress. 

Our goal is to ensure that every person diagnosed with MS is informed about the powerful link between lifestyle choices and MS outcomes. We also believe healthcare professionals should be aware of the growing evidence base behind MS and lifestyle, so they can play an active role in helping patients make informed decisions to support their health and wellbeing. 

Focusing on real-world, peer-reviewed research 

We prioritise research that reflects the real experiences of people with MS. We look at clinical outcomes and the things that matter most, like overall well-being, cognitive function, and fatigue. We engage with findings from high-quality peer-reviewed journals and turn that evidence into practical tools and services that can lead to improved outcomes. 

The research we track and assess focuses on areas such as:  

  • Behaviour change and self-management 
  • Diet 
  • Physical activity 
  • Sunlight and Vitamin D 
  • Stress management 
  • Emotional wellbeing and resilience  
  • Brain health and neurological function  
  • The role of lifestyle in autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative conditions 
  • Advances in Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) for MS   

We connect academic findings to day-to-day life with MS. 

Two women at the Overcoming MS stand at a conference

Collaborating with researchers, clinical partners, and other MS charities 

We believe in the power of partnership. We work with universities, healthcare professionals and other MS charities to support high-quality studies and educational initiatives exploring lifestyle or supportive measures for people with MS.  

Our roles include: 

  • Acting as a study site in randomised-controlled trials (e.g. the University of Nottingham MS Work Hub Study, funded by the MS Society). 
  • Partnering in the Brain Health Mission Partnership, part of the European Academy of Neurology’s Brain Health Strategy. 
  • Building a diverse group of medical and scientific experts in MS, lifestyle medicine and supported self-management, who share our vision. 

If you’re a researcher or clinician interested in collaborating on MS and lifestyle topics, we’d love to hear from you, email [email protected].

If you’re a person living with MS and you’d like to take part in a research study, visit this page to see studies we support. 

Research study opportunities

Gathering our own impact data using rigorous methodologies  

Along with our academic partnerships, we also evaluate our services. We listen to the experiences and feedback of those living with MS to understand our impact. We strive to gather more data on the effects of our online resources, which are a key part of our services. 

We use: 

  • Short feedback surveys  
  • Pre/post intervention surveys including validated Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) such as the MSQoL-29   
  • Longitudinal follow-ups at 6 months  
  • Qualitative data to capture the experiences and perspectives of our community 
  • A biennial Community Survey  

This allows us to show how our approach helps people with MS make and sustain meaningful lifestyle changes, while also contributing new knowledge to the wider field.  

We treat all evaluation data with care and confidentiality.  We are grateful to all community members who share their thoughts and experiences with us.  

Sharing our work through conferences and publications 

We proudly engage in the broader conversation about lifestyle and MS by participating in key national and international conferences. Our team regularly submits abstracts and papers to share our findings, and we aim to grow this area further. 

We engage with leading events in the fields of: 

  • Multiple Sclerosis and neurology e.g. MS Trust, European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), European Academy of Neurology (EAN)
  • Lifestyle medicine and behaviour change e.g. British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM)

By presenting at conferences and publishing in relevant journals, we ensure our insights are evidence-based, visible, respected, and influential in the broader research and clinical communities.  You can see our recent publications here: Our Publications | Overcoming MS

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