Multiple Sclerosis - when your brain lets your body downMultiple Sclerosis - when your brain lets your body down
All In The Mind
Scientists are still puzzled about the causes of multiple sclerosis. It's a disorder of the brain and nervous system, which usually affects young people in the prime of their lives and can cause extreme disability. We hear some of the latest research into the causes of MS and speak with a man who's lost vital movement in his body, but has found a remarkable resilience in his mind.
30:15•20 May 2006
Multiple Sclerosis and the Mind: John Blades’ Remarkable Resilience
Episode Overview
- MS involves the immune system attacking myelin in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive disability.
- Genetic background matters, but studies of twins and half-siblings suggest fewer genes may be involved than once thought.
- Latitude, sunlight and vitamin D levels appear linked to MS risk, with higher rates further from the equator.
- Heat-related fatigue can make sun exposure difficult for people with MS, so maintaining vitamin D may require careful strategies.
- A proactive approach combining exercise, meditation, supplements, technology and cultural engagement helped John move out of depression and rebuild a meaningful life.
“My attitude mentally has been to put the ms on the back burner and get on with my life.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction and other illnesses? This episode of *All In The Mind* shifts the focus to multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, while constantly circling back to the strength of the human mind. You’ll meet John Blades, a musician and former structural engineer who has lived with MS for 24 years and now has no movement from the neck down.
Despite losing the use of his legs, arms, bladder, bowel and much of his chest muscles, John insists, "My attitude mentally has been to put the ms on the back burner and get on with my life." His story will resonate with anyone dealing with long-term conditions, including addiction, showing how mindset and routine can keep life rich and meaningful.
Alongside John’s candid account of depression and how he "climbed out of the hole" through meditation, exercise, supplements and a voice-activated computer, you’ll hear from Professor Anne-Louise Ponsonby and Professor George Ebers. They explain what MS is, why the immune system attacks myelin, and how genes, early-life infections, latitude, sunlight and vitamin D may all influence risk. Their research touches on twin and half-sibling studies, the "hygiene hypothesis", and striking differences in MS rates between regions like Tasmania and Queensland.
For people interested in recovery, chronic illness or mental resilience, this episode blends science with raw personal experience. It shows how someone can lose almost every physical ability yet gain a "rich palette of arts and music" and keep chasing what they love from a chin-controlled wheelchair. If you’re wondering how mindset, environment and medical science intersect in long-term conditions, this conversation might spark new questions about how you care for your own brain and body.
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