Alastair Wilkins
Editor

2013

The word progressive holds a number of meanings. In relation to multiple sclerosis, it adopts the familiar meaning of “happening or developing gradually” and most doctors would recognize the phenotype of this common disease. Another meaning for the word is used when it relates to an idea or a person and is “favoring change or innovation,” such as a progressive school or a progressive artist. Up until recently, the science and treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis has, however, been anything but innovative and many doctors and indeed patients viewed the stage of the disease as one in which very little could be done.