We previously showed that RSV and other SIRT1 activators reduce RGC loss in EAE models of optic neuritis (Shindler et al., 2007, 2010; Fonseca-Kelly et al., 2012), and therefore provide an important potential therapy to prevent the neuronal damage that leads to permanent neurologic disability in optic neuritis and MS patients. This evidence concerns the gene SIRT1 and optic neuritis.