Jesus Lovera, M.D., MsPH

Dr. Jesus Lovera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He completed his neurology residency at the Tulane University School of Medicine, and earned a Masters in Science Degree in Public Health and Biostatistics at the Tulane University School of Public Health. Dr. Lovera went on to complete a three-year clinical and research fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Following this specialty training, he returned to New Orleans to join the LSU Department of Neurology.

Dr. Lovera devotes his clinical practice and research efforts to the diagnosis and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His research projects have evaluated new innovative therapies to improve cognitive functioning and brain health in people with a diagnosis of MS. The National Institutes of Health and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation have funded his research program. One of his novel clinical studies evaluated green tea extract, as neuroprotective therapy for MS. Dr. Lovera has mentored and supervised doctors in training, medical students, and research scholars. He has published multiple research articles in his area of clinical research.

Selected Publications

  1. Ramos AB, Peters CW, Landry-Wegener B, Cannizzaro LA, Lovera J. A case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder presenting with undiagnosed Sjogren’s syndrome and a single, atypical tumefactive lesion: A clinical conundrum. J Neurol Sci. 2017 Dec 15;383:216-218. PubMed PMID: 29122295.
  2. Saffari M, Sanaeinasab H, Hashempour M, Pakpour AH, Lovera JF, Al Shohaib S. Cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Factor Structure of the Jalowiec Coping Scale in Iranian Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Which Coping Strategies Are Most Common and Effective? Int J MS Care. 2017 Jul-Aug;19(4):209-216. PubMed PMID: 28835745; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5564282.
  3. Hughes AJ, Parmenter BA, Haselkorn JK, Lovera JF, Bourdette D, Boudreau E, Cameron MH, Turner AP. Sleep and its associations with perceived and objective cognitive impairment in individuals with multiple sclerosis. J Sleep Res. 2017 Aug;26(4):428-435. PubMed PMID: 28093823.
  4. Yadav V, Marracci G, Kim E, Spain R, Cameron M, Overs S, Riddehough A, Li DK, McDougall J, Lovera J, Murchison C, Bourdette D. Low-fat, plant-based diet in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2016 Sep;9:80-90. PubMed PMID: 27645350.
  5. Lovera J, Ramos A, Devier D, Garrison V, Kovner B, Reza T, Koop D, Rooney W, Foundas A, Bourdette D. Polyphenon E, non-futile at neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis but unpredictably hepatotoxic: Phase I single group and phase II randomized placebo-controlled studies. J Neurol Sci. 2015 Nov 15;358(1-2):46-52. PubMed PMID: 26298797; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4675149.
  6. Hughes AJ, Hartoonian N, Parmenter B, Haselkorn JK, Lovera JF, Bourdette D, Turner AP. Cognitive Impairment and Community Integration Outcomes in Individuals Living With Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Nov;96(11):1973-9. PubMed PMID: 26189203.
  7. Devier DJ, Lovera JF, Lukiw WJ. Increase in NF-κB-sensitive miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 in multiple sclerosis (MS) and pro-inflammatory neurodegeneration. Front Mol Neurosci. 2015 Mar 2;8:5. PubMed PMID: 25784854; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4345893.
  8. Mader EC Jr, Richeh W, Ochoa JM, Sullivan LL, Gutierrez AN, Lovera JF. Tumefactive multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C virus 2a/2C infection: Dual benefit of long-term interferon beta-1a therapy? J Neurol Sci. 2015 Feb 15;349(1-2):239-42. PubMed PMID: 25575859.
  9. Lovera J, Villemarette-Pittman N. Tumefactive multiple sclerosis and fingolimod. J Neurol Sci. 2014 Sep 15;344(1-2):1-2. PubMed PMID: 24993468.
  10. Cameron MH, Peterson V, Boudreau EA, Downs A, Lovera J, Kim E, McMillan GP, Turner AP, Haselkorn JK, Bourdette D. Fatigue is associated with poor sleep in people with multiple sclerosis and cognitive impairment. Mult Scler Int. 2014, 87:27-32. PubMed PMID: 24734182; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3964892.
  11. Lovera J, Reza T. Stress in multiple sclerosis: review of new developments and future directions. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013 Nov;13(11):398. Review. PubMed PMID: 24104400.
  12. Lovera JF, Kim E, Heriza E, Fitzpatrick M, Hunziker J, Turner AP, Adams J, Stover T, Sangeorzan A, Sloan A, Howieson D, Wild K, Haselkorn J, Bourdette D. Ginkgo biloba does not improve cognitive function in MS: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology. 2012 Sep 18; 79(12):1278-84. PubMed PMID: 22955125; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3440446.
  13. Lovera J, Kovner B. Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012 Oct;12(5):618-27. Review. PubMed PMID: 22791241; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4581520.
  14. Mohr DC, Lovera J, Brown T, Cohen B, Neylan T, Henry R, Siddique J, Jin L, Daikh D, Pelletier D. A randomized trial of stress management for the prevention of new brain lesions in MS. Neurology. 2012 Jul 31;79(5):412-9. PubMed PMID: 22786596; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3405245.
  15. Kim E, Lovera J, Schaben L, Melara J, Bourdette D, Whitham R. Novel method for measurement of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Real-Time Digital Fatigue Score. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2010;47(5):477-84. PubMed PMID: 20803391.
  16. Vandenbark AA, Culbertson NE, Bartholomew RM, Huan J, Agotsch M, LaTocha D, Yadav V, Mass M, Whitham R, Lovera J, Milano J, Theofan G, Chou YK, Offner H, Bourdette DN. Therapeutic vaccination with a trivalent T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide vaccine restores deficient FoxP3 expression and TCR recognition in subjects with multiple sclerosis. Immunology. 2008 Jan;123(1):66-78. PubMed PMID: 17944900; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2433276.
  17. Oken BS, Flegal K, Zajdel D, Kishiyama SS, Lovera J, Bagert B, Bourdette DN. Cognition and fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Potential effects of medications with central nervous system activity. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2006 Jan-Feb;43(1):83-90. Review. PubMed PMID: 16847774.
  18. Lovera J, Bagert B, Smoot KH, Wild K, Frank R, Bogardus K, Oken BS, Whitham RH, Bourdette DN. Correlations of Perceived Deficits Questionnaire of Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory with Beck Depression Inventory and neuropsychological tests. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2006 Jan-Feb;43(1):73-82. PubMed PMID: 16847773.
  19. Lovera J, Hayes A, Brennan K, Adams-Hogan F. Immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating dysfunction of the nervous system. South Med J. 2002 Oct;95(10):1229-31. PubMed PMID: 12425521.
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