New book helps people navigate the challenges of MS
March 13, 2025
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong autoimmune disease that affects nearly a million people in the US alone. An updated, helpful, and expert-written resource is now available for people with MS and anyone else who wants to learn about the disease, symptom management, and much more.
is the latest book from the Brain & Life® Books series, part of the AAN’s Brain & Life® product offering that also includes a magazine, website, and podcast. The book provides details on each part of comprehensive MS care, from symptom management to overall wellness; solutions and guidance from three expert authors; and ideas for advocating for one’s needs.
“Any diagnosis—and particularly a lifelong chronic disease that can progress and cause disability—can feel overwhelming,” said Kathleen Costello, ANP-BC, MSCN, the book’s lead author, who has specialized in MS care for more than 25 years. “Having a reference that comprehensively addresses the challenges and solutions will hopefully reduce the overwhelmed feeling and help people develop confidence to manage their disease, have meaningful discussions with their health care providers, and be better equipped to participate in treatment decision making.”
Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis has chapters on understanding the MS disease process, day-to-day symptom management, overall health, and more, along with an extensive glossary that can help people understand the terms used by health care providers. Additional resources are listed so that people can get help for the challenges they face.
Costello started her long career in MS care as a staff nurse in an acute neurology unit at the University of Maryland. This was in 1988, before the approval of the first disease-modifying therapy for MS.
“Patients having MS relapses were admitted to the hospital for steroids, and it was there that I learned the impact of MS on the person with the diagnosis: family, relationships, careers—every aspect of someone’s life,” she said.
When the first disease-modifying therapy was approved, Costello took on a role as staff nurse and study coordinator, where she educated people about MS and conducted several drug trials. She went on to become a nurse practitioner, responsible for the evaluation and management of people with MS, before shifting to the patient advocacy world. Her most recent work includes roles as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, the Chief Operating Officer for Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, and adjunct faculty in the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
Costello’s distinguished career in MS care and advocacy makes her an experienced, knowledgeable voice for Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis, along with fellow expert authors Rosalind Kalb, PhD, CHC, and Barbara S. Giesser, MD, FAAN, FANA. Their interdisciplinary perspectives and years of clinical and research experience combine to offer insightful guidance and solutions.
As an updated edition of Brain & Life’s previous book on MS, Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis provides up-to-date information on treatment options, diagnostic criteria, and the immunopathology of MS. Costello said there is also more emphasis on shared decision making, self-advocacy, and wellness.
About Brain & Life
Brain & Life is an official AAN publication for anyone who’s curious about neurological conditions and brain health. It includes a free print , , and —all with the mission of helping people access the most trusted information from the world’s leading neurologists.
Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis is the latest title in the from the AAN, published with Oxford University Press, which provides clear, reliable information for people living with various neurological disorders.