MS is an inflammatory disorder that targets a person’s central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. It’s there that the link between MS and IBS begins. “Because the brain and spinal cord influence your gut’s actions and sensations, MS-based disruptions of sites in the brain or spinal cord could impact gut function and thus cause symptoms,” Dr. Levinthal says. Physicians at UPMC are conducting research to figure out why up to 40% of MS patients suffer from constipation and abdominal pain that meet the symptom criteria for IBS. “This research will also help physicians to understand the mind-body connection in general,” he adds, “at the same time defining better treatment options for patients with MS who suffer from gastrointestinal issues.”