I wish to sincerely thank Leon Retief for his letters and I especially thank the Moose Jaw Express for allowing the Multiple Sclerosis discussion. Writing, synthesizing and exchanging challenges stimulates my research quest into the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis.
Leon’s points are very good. Criticism leads to improvement – and more research.
My beginning point in the search into the Cause of MS is the 1976 Hypothesis of Neurologists Dr. Stuart Cook, MD and Dr. Peter Dowling, MD (Rutgers) who believed CDV played a major role in the etiology of MS and that primary contract of the Virus was during adolescence.
I began researching the Cause of MS in 2015. I research alone and refuse all financial support.
I interview people with MS; search, read and I “tug at the trouser leg of MS science” and ask, “What’s the cause of MS?” I have friends and family with MS. I’d like to known the Cause so it can be prevented.
Sometimes I feel ‘lay people’ like me aren’t supposed to ask questions about the Cause of MS – that it should be left to the experts. Well, it has been since 1976.
Why no breakthrough?
I do get help. My few contacts, including Neurologist Dr. Stuart Cook MD, Rutgers, Dr. Peter Cook MD in New Hampshire, and Andy Mee, PhD in Manchester, UK and two Profs at UBC.
Canadian MS researchers, Agencies, the CBC, Talk Show Hosts, Politicians and folks at U of S ignore me.
The Moose Jaw Express and Moose Jaw Today have done more to stimulate discussion about the cause of MS than any one else in Canada.
Is the 1976 Cook and Dowling hypothesis on the Cause of MS wrong?
An IS-RT-PCR* test would answer the question. (*in situ-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction Test).
Sincere thanks to Leon for the challenges and the Express for providing the platform.
Richard Dowson
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
