From the moment you meet Associate Professor Yasmine Probst, it’s clear she’s a force to be reckoned with.
She’s a passionate dietitian and nutritionist. She’s a prolific researcher whose pioneering work could transform the way we think about treating multiple sclerosis (MS). She’s an energetic ‘soccer mum’ of three small kids.
Yasmine has also been living with MS since she was 22 years old.
It started with a tingle in her hands and feet. When that spread up her legs, Yasmine’s GP sent her straight to hospital for an MRI scan. The results showed she had relapsing remitting MS.
True to form, Yasmine refused to let her diagnosis stop her. She finished her degree at university and kept up her busy social life. At the same time, she read as much about the disease as possible and learned all she could about controlling the disease beyond using medication alone.
That’s when she discovered very little research had been done into the role that diet could play in managing MS symptoms.
“There were some studies on supplements and some inconsistent studies on a few key nutrients. But that’s not helpful for people in the real world because we don’t eat single nutrients – we eat foods,” said Yasmine.
The lack of information made Yasmine determined. She’s since dedicated her career to finding ways diet can improve the lives of people with MS – and your donations are making her research possible.
Thanks to the generosity of MS Research Australia supporters, Yasmine is currently running a number of projects measuring how different ways of eating impact the symptoms and disability of people with MS.
The results are already creating a buzz in the research community and Yasmine’s now set her sights on running a clinical trial.
“One day I want to be able to say with certainty that eating a particular pattern of foods is beneficial for people with MS, and to know why. A clinical trial is the only way to do that, but we’re not quite there yet. There’s lots of research still to be done,” said Yasmine.
Support from the MS community is vital for making that game-changing research happen. Yasmine is deeply grateful for that support and says ‘every donation makes a difference, no matter how small’.
Yasmine also believes the generosity of the MS community will be the key to powering research outcomes. Her greatest hope is that one day, we can end the disease. Yasmine told us:
“Finding a cure would be the ultimate, for me, my kids, and everyone with MS. It’s something I’d love to see in my lifetime.”
If you’d like to know how your support is powering MS research – and read about the latest breakthroughs – download our 2020 Progress Impact Report.
