RealTalk MS

Jon Strum cuts through all the jargon and breaks down the latest multiple sclerosis news. You’ll meet the scientists who are creating tomorrow’s MS treatments today. You’ll hear from the experts discussing how the latest tweaks and changes to our healthcare laws will impact your MS treatment. And we’ll be talking to the courageous MS warriors who are out there advocating on behalf of the MS community every day, as well as the men and women who are committed to living their best lives with MS and living their best lives as MS caregivers. If you're dealing with multiple sclerosis in your life -- as a patient, caregiver, family member, or friend -- join us each week for RealTalk MS.

Special Episode: Dr. Aaron Boster Explains MS Clinical Trials 09/17/2025

Episode 420: A DIY Kit for Improving Your MS Journey with Julie Polisena 09/15/2025

Episode 420: A DIY Kit for Improving Your MS Journey with Julie Polisena Disease-modifying therapies are the cornerstone of MS treatment, but they're not the only piece of the puzzle. Beyond prescription medications, self-care that includes making healthy lifestyle choices can significantly improve your quality of life with MS. Julie Polisena knows this firsthand. Julie lives with MS, and in a recent blog post, she shared a comprehensive list of the lifestyle changes that have improved her quality of life with MS. Julie joins us today to discuss some of the most impactful changes you can make to start your own journey toward better health and wellness. We're also diving into the science behind some of the most talked-about diets for MS. We're breaking down the research on the Mediterranean diet, the Keto diet, the Wahls Diet, the Swank Diet, a gluten-free diet, and intermittent fasting, giving you an overview of the studies that have measured their impact on MS. We're discussing the latest developments in the ongoing scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). There's significant pending legal action and a congressional investigation targeting PBMs, the powerful and secretive middlemen in the prescription drug supply chain. And we'll tell you how they've profited at the expense of millions of people with chronic illnesses, including people living with MS. We'll tell you about a clinical trial that's testing an injectable formulation of Briumvi. You'll hear about a promising new strategy for myelin repair. And we'll remind you about a warning from the FDA and Health Canada about glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A DIY approach to improving your MS journey :22 A roundup of studies that focused on popular diets for people with MS 1:53 Congress and the FTC have pharmacy benefit managers in their sites 7:32 TG Therapeutics is testing an injectable form of Briumvi 9:32 A research team has developed a novel remyelination strategy 11:03 A warning about glatiramer acetate has been issued 14:08 Julie Polisena discusses lifestyle changes that can make a difference in your quality of life 16:58 Share this episode 33:24 Next week's episode 33:43 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist READ: Small Changes, Big Impact: Managing My MS Through Lifestyle Changes https://mscanada.ca/find-support/blog/small-changes-big-impact-managing-my-ms-through-lifestyle-change STUDY: The Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Modulating Disease Progression and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Transient Gene Melting Governs the Timing of Oligodendrocyte Maturation REVIEW: Copaxone, Glatopa (Glatiramer Acetate) FDA Drug Safety Communication JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App for Android Devices REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 420 Guest: Julie Polisena /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/38208770

Episode 419: A Whole-Person Health Approach to MS Care with Dr. Lynne Shinto 09/08/2025

Episode 419: A Whole-Person Health Approach to MS Care with Dr. Lynne Shinto Some people living with MS adhere to a treatment plan based exclusively on what we might consider traditional medicine. Others opt for alternative treatments. And, still, others take a whole-person health approach, blending integrative medicine with traditional treatments designed to support an individual's mind and body. Dr. Lynne Shinto joins me to discuss how a whole-person health approach can transform living with MS. Dr. Shinto is a Professor of Neurology and an MS Specialist at the Center for Women's Health at Oregon Health and Science University. We're also sharing some encouraging news about funding for the National Institutes of Health in 2026. We'll explain the research that has led to the identification of a new and quite different subtype of MS. We'll tell you about this year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis. The National MS Society's virtual program, New to MS: Navigating Your Journey, takes place in just two days. We have all the details! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A whole-person health approach to MS care :22 House Republicans reject President Trump's $20 billion cut to 2026 NIH funding 1:26 Have researchers identified a new MS subtype? 4:16 This year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis 8:27 We're two days away from the National MS Society's New to MS: Navigating Your Journey virtual program 9:53 Dr. Lynne Shinto discusses how taking a whole-person approach to MS care can transform your MS journey 12:04 Share this episode 31:41 Next week's episode 32:01 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist STUDY: Large-Scale Online Assessment Uncovers a Distinct Multiple Sclerosis Subtype with Selective Cognitive Impairment REGISTER: New To MS: Navigating Your Journey Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 419 Guest: Dr. Lynne Shinto /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/38113015

Episode 418: The Importance of Developing a Growth Mindset When You're Living With MS with Dr. Mirian Franco 09/01/2025

Episode 418: The Importance of Developing a Growth Mindset When You're Living With MS with Dr. Mirian Franco Living with MS means living with uncertainty, possible physical disability or cognitive dysfunction, bouts of crushing fatigue, mood changes, and let's not forget the very real irritation of well-meaning people telling you how healthy you look. Just processing the world around you can feel challenging. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Miriam Franco joins me to discuss how developing a growth mindset can make all the difference in how you experience your MS journey. We're also sharing a real-world example of how the drastic cuts in federal funding are already impacting MS care. We'll tell you about the first country in the world to approve Tolebrutinib, a new disease-modifying therapy for nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS. And we'll explain why people are particularly excited about this medication. We'll share details about the MS Clinical Imaging and Data Resource that's been launched by the International Progressive MS Alliance. We'll tell you how and where to catch the MS Standup Comedy Benefit next Monday in New York. And we're reminding you about your opportunity to impact future MS therapies by helping the FDA better understand what living with MS is really like. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Developing a growth mindset :22 How those federal research funding cuts are impacting MS patient care 1:30 United Arab Emirates becomes the first country in the world to approve Tolebrutinib for nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS 5:05 The International Progressive MS Alliance launches an MS Clinical Imaging and Data Resource open to the MS research community 8:32 The MS Standup Comedy Benefit takes place next Monday in New York 10:15 Add your voice and participate in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative 11:04 Dr. Miriam Franco discusses what it means to have a growth mindset when you're living with MS 14:50 Share this episode 34:11 Next week's episode 34:31 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA VIDEO: Dr. Robert Fox, Principal Investigator in the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Secondary Progressive MS VIDEO: Dr. Jiwon Oh, Principal Investigator in the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Relapsing-Remitting MS The International Progressive MS Alliance Clinical Imaging and Data Resource ATTEND: MS Stand-Up Comedy Benefit Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 418 Guest: Dr. Miriam Franco /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/38030560

Episode 417: Music and the Body with Emmy Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal 08/25/2025

Episode 417: Music and the Body with Emmy Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal If you've watched the critically acclaimed series, House of Cards, on Netflix, or the OCD detective series, Monk, on the USA Network, you've already listened to some of five-time Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal's work. This week, Jeff joins me to discuss his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS. We're also sharing all the details about the free event taking place at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, on September 1, when Jeff joins conductor Leonard Slatkin and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a free concert featuring three of Jeff's works, including a world premiere! We're also explaining a newly introduced AI-based model of MS that replaces the MS subtypes (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive) with a continuum that tracks four different states. We'll tell you about a study that identified specific gut bacteria that may determine whether an individual is susceptible to MS. And we'll share the details of a study that identified the first genetic marker that can accurately predict how someone will respond to a disease-modifying therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal discusses his work and his MS journey :22 An AI-based model of MS 1:18 A study identifies specific gut bacteria that may be linked to MS susceptibility 4:49 A study identifies the first genetic marker for accurately predicting an individual's response to MS treatment 6:29 Composer Jeff Beal discusses his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS 9:57 Share this episode 30:36 Coming next week 30:56 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA ATTEND: Music + The Body An AI-Driven Reclassification of Multiple Sclerosis Progression STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis and Gut Microbiota: Lachnospiraceae From the Ileum of MS Twins Trigger MS-Like Disease in Germfree Transgenic Mice -- An Unbiased Functional Study PARTICIPATE: International MS Microbiome Study STUDY: HLA-A*03:01 As Predictive Genetic Biomarker for Glatiramer Acetate Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 417 Guest: Jeff Beal /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37923610

Episode 416: The Updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS with Dr. Andrew Solomon 08/18/2025

Episode 416: The Updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS with Dr. Andrew Solomon Since 2001, clinicians have relied on the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria as the gold standard for diagnosing someone with multiple sclerosis. As science continues to add to our understanding of MS, the McDonald Criteria have been updated in 2005, 2010, 2017, and most recently in 2024. This latest iteration of the McDonald criteria will be published in September, and today, Dr. Andrew Solomon is giving us a preview of what these changes are, what they mean, and how they're going to improve the process of diagnosing someone with MS. We'll also share results of a study that show MS may actually start 15 years before someone experiences their first MS symptom. We'll tell you about a study that shows a decline in the number of people with MS who are progressing to secondary progressive MS. We'll give you all the details so you can participate in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative with the FDA. And we'll remind you that Burgers to Beat MS Day is just two days away! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Updated criteria for diagnosing MS :22 Study results show that MS actually starts many years before the first symptom 1:21 Study shows a decline in the number of people progressing to secondary progressive MS 7:40 A unique opportunity for you to impact future treatments and share your experience of living with MS with the FDA 9:51 We're just 2 days away from Burgers to Beat MS Day! 13:06 Dr. Andrew Solomon shares a preview of the updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS 14:40 Share this episode 26:20 Coming next week 26:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset (PLAIN ENGLISH VERSION) STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis From Onset to Secondary Progression: A 30-Year Italian Register Study DONATE: Burgers To Beat MS Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 416 Guest: Dr. Andrew Solomon /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37839380

Episode 415: Your Money -- Ways to Earn and Hold Onto More of It When You're Living with MS with Beth Scott and Paula Cole 08/11/2025

Episode 415: Your Money -- Ways to Earn and Hold Onto More of It When You're Living with MS with Beth Scott and Paula Cole Living with MS is expensive. Very expensive. It's estimated that the average cost of living with MS is over $88,000 per year. How, in the midst of financial stress and uncertainty, can you formulate a financial plan that takes MS into account? Paula Cole lives with MS, and she also lives with a lot of financial planning savvy. Paula joins the podcast to share tips and strategies for establishing a personal financial plan for you and your family -- even while you're coping with MS. And Beth Scott, the director of case management at the Patient Advocate Foundation, joins us to explain how you can take advantage of work incentive programs that allow an individual to keep working or even try returning to work while they're receiving Social Security Disability cash benefits. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Ways to earn and hold onto more money when you're living with MS :22 Beth Scott explains how you can benefit from work incentive programs while you're receiving Social Security Disability cash benefits :35 Paula Cole shares tips and strategies for establishing a personal financial plan for you and your family when you're living with MS 12:48 Share this episode 27:47 Next Week: The new criteria for diagnosing MS 28:07 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 415 Guests: Beth Scott, Paula Cole /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37641005

Episode 414: Finding Peace in the Midst of Uncertainty with Andrea Arzt, LCSW, MSCS 08/04/2025

Episode 414: Finding Peace in the Midst of Uncertainty with Andrea Arzt, LCSW, MSCS Living with MS has always meant living with uncertainty. Left unchecked, that uncertainty can lead to anxiety, which can make your MS symptoms feel worse. This week, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Andrea Arzt, joins me to share tips and strategies for finding peace in the midst of uncertainty. You'll also meet the CEO of the MS International Federation, Dr. Lydia Makaroff. And you'll hear how artist Gordon Keith is combining his art with philanthropy in support of MS Canada. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Finding peace during uncertain times :22 Dr. Lydia Makaroff discusses the work that the MS International Federation is involved in on behalf of the global MS community :58 Gordon Keith discusses his life as an artist and how he's using his art to raise funds for MS Canada 10:43 Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Andrea Arzt, offers strategies for finding peace of mind while facing uncertainty 21:40 Share this episode 32:12 Next Week: It's all about the money! 32:32 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 414 Guests: Dr. Lydia Makaroff, Gordon Keith, and Andrea Arzt /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37626960

Episode 413: How AI Will Impact MS Patient Care with Dr. Brad Willingham 07/28/2025

Episode 413: How AI Will Impact MS Patient Care with Dr. Brad Willingham We're witnessing the early stages of a paradigm shift, as artificial intelligence is beginning to impact virtually every aspect of healthcare, from research to patient care. And there's much, much more to come. This week, Dr. Brad Willingham, the Director of MS Research at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, joins me to discuss how AI will impact MS patient care. We'll also share the encouraging results from a Phase 2 open-label extension study for Fenebrutinib, an investigational disease-modifying therapy. We'll tell you about study results that show exercise interventions that follow physical activity guidelines for MS can have a significant impact on MS-related depression. And we're sharing the results of a study that illustrate what can happen when you delay starting a disease-modifying therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: How AI will impact MS patient care :22 Fenebrutinib shows positive results after one-year extension study 1:33 MS-related depression can be significantly eased through exercise intervention that follows physical activity guidelines for MS 3:36 What happens when you delay starting disease-modifying therapy? 8:46 Dr. Brad Willingham discusses how artificial intelligence is impacting all aspects of healthcare 14:29 Share this episode 33:18 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 33:38 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist STUDY: Safety and Efficacy of Fenebrutinib in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FENopta): A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial and Open-Label Extension STUDY: Effects of Meeting Exercise Guidelines on Depression and Anxiety in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Exercise and Physical Activity Recommendations for ALL People with MS STUDY: Delayed Access and Adherence are Real-World Challenges That Compromise Effectiveness of Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 413 Guest: Dr. Brad Willingham /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37520185

Episode 412: Understanding Late-Onset MS with Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas 07/21/2025

Episode 412: Understanding Late-Onset MS with Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas More people over the age of 50 are being diagnosed with MS than ever before. When you consider the other health conditions that often develop as we age, and you add the fact that our immune system changes with age, there's a lot to think about when it comes to diagnosing and treating late-onset MS. This week, Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, the System Chief of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis at the OhioHealth Multiple Sclerosis Center, joins me to help us better understand late-onset MS. We'll also tell you about research results that could lead to a simple blood test that can predict MS years before someone experiences a single symptom. You'll learn about an ultra-high resolution brain imaging tool that could open the door to precision neuroscience and revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders The FDA wants to talk with people about what living with MS is like, and what they're looking for in future treatments. We'll tell you how and where to register for an informational webinar that will give you all the details about the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative. And if you're in or around Northern California, we'll remind you that you can join us this Saturday in Napa Valley at Crush MS! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Understanding Late-Onset MS :22 How a simple blood test may predict MS years before someone experiences any symptoms 1:34 How a new ultra-high resolution brain imaging tool may revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders 6:40 Are you interested in telling the FDA what it's like living with MS, and what you want in future treatments? 8:53 Are you ready to support MS research while spending the afternoon in a Napa Valley vineyard? Get all the details to attend Crush MS 10:29 Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas discusses what's different and what's the same in treating late-onset MS 12:09 Share this episode 29:26 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 29:46 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist STUDY: Early Identification of Individuals at Risk for Developing Multiple Sclerosis by Quantification of EBNA-1-381-452-Specific Antibody Titers REGISTER: Informational Webinar on the FDA "Shaping Tomorrow Together" Listening Session EVENT: Crush MS Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 412 Guest: Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37466115

Episode 411: An Encouraging Clinical Trial for Progressive MS with Jason Tardio 07/14/2025

Episode 411: An Encouraging Clinical Trial for Progressive MS with Jason Tardio Back in Episode #401, we reported promising results from a Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium and its impact on progressive MS. This therapy is being developed by Immunic Therapeutics, and this week, Jason Tardio, Immunic's President and Chief Operating Officer, joins me to share some of the specifics of that clinical trial. Jason will also shed light on why Immunic believes that vidofludimus calcium goes beyond merely slowing disability, potentially offering vital neuroprotection for MS patients, making it a potential game-changer. We're also sharing the encouraging results from a study that focused on the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation as a remyelination therapy. We'll tell you about a study in the U.K. that measured disability progression among people with MS five years after undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). You'll learn about an AI tool that can predict whether someone living with MS is likely to experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) with a high degree of accuracy. We'll tell you where you can catch the International Progressive MS Alliance webcast featuring a panel of experts discussing the future role of digital tools in MS research. We'll explain how one of the less publicized aspects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact future MS care. And Crush MS is less than two weeks away! We're sharing all the details! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Encouraging results from a clinical trial for progressive MS. :22 How a less-publicized aspect of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact future MS patient care 1:18 A study looked at the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation as a remyelination therapy 4:31 A study in the U.K. analyzed disability progression among people with MS five years after receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (aHSCT) 7:42 Can AI accurately predict who will experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA)? 10:45 Don't miss the International Progressive MS Alliance webcast featuring experts discussing the future role of digital tools in MS research 12:40 Are you ready to support MS research while spending the afternoon in a Napa Valley vineyard? Get all the details to attend Crush MS 13:45 Jason Tardio, President and Chief Operating Officer of Immunic Therapeutics, discusses the recent Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium as a therapy for progressive MS 15:03 Share this episode 30:03 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 30:23 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist STUDY: Remyelination of Chronic Demyelinated Lesions With Directly Induced Neural Stem Cells STUDY: Autologous Haemotopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the U.K.: A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis of Activity Haematological Outcomes from the British Society of Blood And Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy STUDY: Deep Learning to Predict Progression Independent of Relapse Activity at a First Demyelinating Event WEBCAST: A Discussion From the International Progressive MS Alliance's Digital Tools Workshop EVENT: Crush MS Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 411 Guest: Jason Tardio /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37386085

Episode 410: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop -- Part Two 07/07/2025

Episode 410: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop -- Part Two Over the past few months, we've shared news about an algorithm that can accurately predict whether someone living with MS will experience worsening symptoms or a relapse in the weeks ahead. You've heard about a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar investment by the International Progressive MS Alliance to support the development of an AI-based tool that will predict future disability as well as how someone with MS will respond to different disease-modifying therapies. Just last week, you learned about a digital tool that can accurately diagnose whether someone has relapsing-remitting MS or progressive MS -- after a five-minute test! Digital tools are poised to rewrite the rules when it comes to conducting MS research and providing patient care. Welcome to Part Two of our coverage of the Digital Tools Workshop hosted by the International Progressive MS Alliance. In this week's episode, you'll hear Vanessa Fanning share her perspective as someone living with progressive MS on how digital tools can benefit people with progressive MS, while also highlighting some of the challenges that need to be addressed. Then, you'll hear neuroimmunologist and data scientist Professor Sergio Baranzini discuss how all the data that digital tools produce will be integrated into MS research and MS care. Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie recaps the topics covered at the meeting and describes the next steps necessary to integrate digital tools into MS clinical care. And we'll have to take a moment to share the frightening real-world consequences of last week's decision by President Trump and Congress to cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The real-world impact of the Big, Beautiful Bill on people with MS and any other chronic illness :22 An example of how a digital tool could revolutionize MS patient care 7:41 Vanessa Fanning shares a patient's perspective on how digital tools can benefit people living with progressive MS and reminds us of the challenges that still need to be solved 11:19 Professor Sergio Baranzini discusses managing big data in the clinic 23:15 Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie provides a recap of the workshop and describes the next steps to be taken 31:07 Share this episode 43:21 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 43:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 410 Guests: Vanessa Fanning, Professor Sergio Baranzini, Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37277150

Episode 409: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop 06/30/2025

Episode 409: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop Last week, I was in Philadelphia, attending the Digital Tools Workshop hosted by the International Progressive MS Alliance. Welcome to Part One of our coverage! As we look around us, it's hard to imagine a single aspect of our lives that hasn't been impacted by the constant and rapid evolution of technology. Just consider the capabilities of the device you're using to listen to this podcast. This workshop highlighted the ways that emerging digital tools will accelerate MS clinical trials and enhance personalized MS care. In this week's episode, you'll hear Dr. Robert Fox, the Chair of the International Progressive MS Alliance Scientific Steering Committee, and Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, discuss some of the ways digital tools can impact MS research and care, as well as some of the issues that need to be addressed to ensure that everyone living with MS can benefit from these tools. Then, you'll hear the workshop co-chair, Dr. Jennifer Graves, discuss her team's work in developing a digital tool that can accurately determine whether an individual has relapsing-remitting MS or progressive MS -- after a 5-minute test that consists of tapping their fingers and feet! You'll hear Dr. Anne Helme, the Head of Research and Access at the MS International Federation, explain how digital tools can boost patient-reported outcomes in MS research. And you'll hear Dr. Stefan Gold share the positive results of his study involving an at-home digital intervention designed to treat depression among people with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop :22 Dr. Tim Coetzee and Dr. Robert Fox discuss how digital tools will impact MS research and care :54 Dr. Jennifer Graves talks about her team's work in developing a digital tool, and how MS research is being threatened by drastic cuts in federal research funding 9:56 Dr. Anne Helme discusses how digital tools will boost patient-reported outcomes in MS research 16:26 Dr. Stefan Gold shares the positive results of his study involving an at-home digital intervention designed to treat depression among people with MS. 24:06 Share this episode 37:38 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 37:58 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 409 Guests: Dr. Tim Coetzee, Dr. Robert Fox, Dr. Jennifer Graves, Dr. Anne Helme, Dr. Stefan Gold /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37198960

Episode 408: Explaining Your MS to All Those Well-Meaning Family Members and Friends Who Get It Wrong with Kris Inman 06/23/2025

Episode 408: Explaining Your MS to All Those Well-Meaning Family Members and Friends Who Get It Wrong with Kris Inman Have you experienced those familiar feelings of frustration when the people closest to you don't seem to get your MS? Do you find yourself explaining and re-explaining things to well-meaning friends, co-workers, and even family members? Kris Inman's wife, Mariah, was diagnosed with MS in 2020, and, since then, Kris has been Mariah's care partner and an active member of the MS community. This week, Kris joins me to talk about overcoming the challenge of helping your friends and family understand what an MS diagnosis means and what living with MS is really like. We're also sharing research results that show that someone's age at the time they experience the first symptoms of MS can determine whether they experience a better physical or mental health-related quality of life. We'll tell you about a report issued jointly by the MS Society in the UK and the Work Foundation at Lancaster University that details specific challenges people with MS face in the workplace. We'll give you the details about the National MS Society's Fast Forward investment in Neurogenesis, a biotech company developing a proprietary stem cell therapy designed to treat progressive MS. And we'll share news about the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS), a device that's used in combination with physical therapy to reduce walking problems for people with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The frustration you might feel when some of the people closest to you don't really seem to get your MS. :22 Study results show that the age of MS onset can be predictive of physical and mental health-related quality of life 1:27 A report details challenges faced in the workplace by people living with MS in the UK 4:28 The MS Society's Fast Forward program has made an investment in Neurogenesis, a biotech company developing a proprietary cell therapy designed to treat progressive MS 8:00 Aetna Healthcare has become the third major private insurer to offer reimbursement for the PoNS device 11:00 Kris Inman discusses the finer points of being an MS care partner 14:17 Share this episode 29:13 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 29:32 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Act Now! Contact Your Senators About Medicaid and Health Coverage STUDY: Age of Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset Affects Mental and Physical Health-Related Quality of Life in Opposite Directions REPORT: No Compromises: Supporting People with MS to Thrive In and Out of Work Neurogenesis The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS) https://ponstherapy.com Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 408 Guest: Kris Inman /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37093045

Episode 407: Overcoming Sleep Issues When You're Living with MS with Dr. Katie Siengsukon 06/16/2025

Episode 407: Overcoming Sleep Issues When You're Living with MS with Dr. Katie Siengsukon Getting a good night's sleep is something that benefits everyone. And if you're someone who's living with MS, it's perhaps even more important. But research suggests that more than half the people living with MS experience poor sleep. Dr. Katie Siengsukon, the Director of the Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, returns to the podcast to discuss the importance of good sleep hygiene, along with steps you can take to improve the quality of your sleep. We're also explaining how changes in U.S. public policy will impact people with MS. We'll tell you about an algorithm developed at Duke University that can predict (with 80-90% accuracy!) whether someone's MS symptoms will worsen in the weeks ahead. We'll share study results that show MS accelerates biological aging among children and teens with MS. We'll explain why this finding can also be applied to adults with MS, and what it means. And we'll tell you about the biotech start-up that has succeeded at bringing the brains of people who have passed away back to life, and we'll explain why that can have a major impact on CNS disease research. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Sleep Hygiene and MS :22 How public policy changes in the U.S. will impact people with MS 1:18 What if you knew when an MS symptom was going to worsen? 6:18 Study results show MS accelerates biological aging in children 9:04 How re-animated human brains could accelerate CNS research (And which company is doing it!) 12:00 Dr. Katie Siengsukon discusses the importance of good sleep hygiene for people living with MS 15:37 Share this episode 33:32 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 33:52 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Act Now! Contact Your Senators About Medicaid and Health Coverage STUDY: Performance of Machine Learning Models for Predicting High-Severity Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Epigenetic Aging in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Bexorg https://bexorg.com Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 407 Guest: Dr. Katie Siengsukon /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/37007725

Episode 406: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. John DeLuca, Dr. Brian Sandroff, and Kristine Werner Ozug 06/09/2025

Episode 406: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. John DeLuca, Dr. Brian Sandroff, and Kristine Werner Ozug Welcome to Part Two of our coverage of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting! In this week's episode, Dr. John DeLuca shares research that has identified an effective behavioral treatment for MS-related fatigue. Dr. Brian Sandroff discusses how MS rehabilitation has evolved and then answers some of your questions about exercise and MS. And Kristine Werner Ozug, a member of the RealTalk MS team and someone who lives with MS, shares her perspective on the sessions and presentations she attended at CMSC. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Part 2 of our coverage from the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting :22 Dr. John DeLuca shares his research, which has identified an effective behavioral treatment for MS-related fatigue 1:15 Dr. Brian Sandroff discusses how MS rehabilitation has evolved and answers some of your questions 8:34 Kristine Werner Ozug shares her perspective on the sessions and presentations she attended at CMSC 19:34 Share this episode 31:13 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 31:34 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 406 Guests: Dr. John DeLuca, Dr. Brian Sandroff, and Kristine Werner Ozug /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36870510

Episode 405: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting -- Part One with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Stephen Krieger 06/02/2025

Episode 405: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting -- Part One with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Stephen Krieger Last week in Phoenix, Arizona, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) held its annual meeting, and we had a chance to talk with some of the top MS experts in the world. Welcome to Part One of our coverage! First, you'll hear Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, share her overview of the sessions and presentations that especially stood out to her. Then, you'll hear Dr. Stephen Krieger as he expands on one of the most interesting and provocative presentations at the conference. Dr. Krieger headed up a panel of experts that explained how the terms used to describe MS today (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, and primary progressive) are no longer adequate and then offered answers to the question, "If MS is one disease, what does that mean for clinical conversations?". We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting :22 Dr. Kathy Zackowski shares an overview of the sessions and presentations that caught her eye 1:08 Dr. Stephen Krieger discusses seeing MS as one disease 17:11 Share this episode 31:58 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 32:18 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 405 Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Stephen Krieger /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36802345

Episode 404: World MS Day 2025 with Meredith O'Brien 05/26/2025

Episode 404: World MS Day 2025 with Meredith O'Brien Every five minutes, someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with MS. But getting that diagnosis can be challenging. And the evidence is clear that early intervention makes a difference. The sooner someone can begin a disease-modifying therapy, the better their outcome is going to be. World MS Day is May 30th, and this year, World MS Day is focused on eliminating the obstacles that get in the way of a timely and accurate diagnosis. I thought World MS Day would be the perfect time to invite Meredith O'Brien to join me to discuss her new book, Uncomfortably Numb 2: An Anthology for Newly-Diagnosed MS Patients. We'll also explain how the drastic cuts to Medicaid funding that were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives will affect hundreds of thousands of people with MS, and how the additional changes made to the Affordable Care Act will leave millions of Americans without health insurance. We're sharing the results of a study that may have identified how B-cells infected by the Epstein-Barr Virus migrate into the brain. And we'll explain why that could be the activity that triggers MS. We'll tell you about a study that makes the case for treating pediatric MS with Ocrevus. And we'll share the results of a study that discovered an association between inflammation-causing molecules and frailty among people with relapsing forms of MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: World MS Day :22 U.S. House of Representatives Vote to Gut Healthcare in America 2:29 Get involved! Become an MS Activist today! 3:38 A research team has demonstrated how EBV-infected B-cells migrate to the brain 4:28 Researchers demonstrate the efficacy of Ocrevus in treating pediatric MS 7:13 Researchers show an association between frailty and an inflammatory molecule 8:57 Meredith O'Brien discusses her new book, Uncomfortably Numb 2: An Anthology for Newly-Diagnosed MS Patients 11:05 Share this episode 24:51 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 25:12 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: World MS Day Uncomfortably Numb 2: An Anthology for Newly-Diagnosed MS Patients STUDY: Epstein-Barr Virus Induces Aberrant B Cell Migration and Diapedesis Via FAK-Dependent Chemotaxis Pathways STUDY: Ocrelizumab for Relapsing Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Association Between Frailty and Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 404 Guest: Meredith O'Brien /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36695000

Episode 403: Moving Toward a Biologically Based Description of MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kathy Smith 05/19/2025

Episode 403: Moving Toward a Biologically Based Description of MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kathy Smith Last week, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis convened a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, to dive deeper into what a new framework for describing MS might look like. There's still a tremendous amount of work to be done here. But, considering that whatever language is eventually adopted will affect every person living with MS, I want to keep you fully informed on this important work. So I'm devoting this entire episode of the podcast to sharing conversations I had with three of the attendees at the meeting in Dublin. First, you'll hear from Dr. Bruce Bebo, the National MS Society's Executive Vice President of Research. Then, you'll hear from Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, a neurologist specializing in MS at the Cleveland Clinic, and, finally, you'll hear from Kathy Smith, who's lived with MS for the past 20 years. As you listen to these conversations, I think you'll hear three slightly different perspectives, but you'll also hear some of the broad concepts and ideas around which there was a high level of agreement at our meeting. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A meeting to discuss moving to a biologically based description of MS :22 Dr. Bruce Bebo discusses how a new framework for describing MS could impact MS research and people living with MS 3:45 Dr. Daniel Ontaneda describes some of the shortcomings of the current MS course descriptors and discusses how a new framework for describing MS could impact people living with MS 17:34 Kathy Smith explains how current MS course descriptors fail to fully capture her experience as someone living with MS, and explains how new course descriptors could benefit people living with MS 26:24 What's next in the work to develop new course descriptors for MS 35:20 Share this episode 35:44 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 36:03 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at RealTalk MS Episode 279: A New Framework for Researching, Diagnosing, and Treating MS with Professor Tanja Kuhlmann RealTalk MS Episode 280: How the Proposed Framework for Diagnosing and Treating MS Will Affect You with Dr. Tim Coetzee Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 403 Guests: Dr. Bruce Bebo, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, Kathy Smith /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36604690

Episode 402: The Importance of Asserting Your Personal Style When You're Living with MS with Jeri Zink Denz 05/12/2025

Episode 402: The Importance of Asserting Your Personal Style When You're Living with MS with Jeri Zink Denz If you're living with MS, you might experience days when it feels like you're losing your sense of who you are, as your sense of self gets redefined by your symptoms. Reasserting your personal style can be a powerful way to rediscover joy in who you are while reclaiming your identity. Jeri Zink Denz lives with MS and works in the luxury fashion industry. She's always been passionate about fashion and personal style, and Jeri joins me to discuss how you can find and define your personal style, despite the challenges that MS may present. We'll also explain the hidden outcome of the massive agency layoffs and drastic cuts in federal funding for healthcare research, and this is the outcome that can affect research for decades to come. We're sharing the results of a study that may have identified a biomarker for rapid MS progression. We'll tell you about the game-changing artificial intelligence project that received a $750,000 investment from the International Progressive MS Alliance. And you'll find out how and where you can register for the upcoming Hispanic/Latinx MS Experience Summit. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Reasserting your personal style can be a powerful way to rediscover joy in who you are in spite of the challenges that MS may present. :22 Layoffs + funding cuts = brain drain 1:08 Have researchers found a biomarker for rapid MS progression? 4:51 The International Progressive MS Alliance has invested $750,000 in what could be a game-changing AI project 9:09 The National MS Society's Hispanic/Latinx MS Experience Summit is just 8 days away 10:59 Jeri Zink Denz discusses why it's especially important (and even therapeutic!) to assert your personal style when you're living with MS 12:22 Share this episode 29:31 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 29:50 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] STUDY: Broad Rim Lesions are a New Pathological and Imaging Biomarker for Rapid Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis International Progressive MS Alliance Hispanic/Latinx MS Experience Summit Info & Registration Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 402 Guest: Jeri Zink Denz /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36509875

Episode 401: The Things That (Should) Happen at Your Appointment With Your Neurologist with Dr. Barbara Giesser 05/05/2025

Episode 401: The Things That (Should) Happen at Your Appointment With Your Neurologist with Dr. Barbara Giesser Most people living with MS don't see their neurologist often. For many, it might be only once or twice a year. A lot of important things take place during that appointment. Symptoms are assessed. Decisions about disease-modifying therapies are made or, sometimes, changed. Questions get asked and, hopefully, answered. Dr. Barbara Giesser returns to the podcast, this time, to review the things that should be discussed and followed up on at your appointment with your neurologist or MS specialist. We're also sharing some good news about MS research funding from the National MS Society and the International Progressive MS Alliance. We'll tell you how you can catch the replay of the International Progressive MS Alliance's webcast focused on putting people with MS at the center of MS research. We're sharing the encouraging outcome of the Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium and progressive MS. We'll tell you how you or a family member can participate in the GEMS study. And we'll tell you about a new AI tool that can accurately diagnose a patient's transition from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS, often before a clinician can! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: What (should) happen during your appointment with your neurologist :22 National MS Society invests $18.1 million in new research 1:04 International Progressive MS Alliance funds 3 clinical trial development projects 3:53 Catch the replay of the International Progressive MS Alliance webcast focused on putting people with MS at the center of research 6:56 Immunic Therapeutics announces positive results from the Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating vidofludimus calcium for progressive MS 7:45 You or a family member may qualify to participate in the GEMS study 10:00 AI tool can accurately diagnose the transition from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS 12:01 Dr. Barbara Giesser discusses the kinds of conversations you should be having during your appointment with your neurologist 16:49 Share this episode 30:38 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 31:00 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] National MS Society Commits $18.1 Million for Research (Projects Being Funded) International Progressive MS Alliance International Progressive MS Alliance Webcast: Putting People with MS at the Center of Research Participate in MS Research: The GEMS Study GEMS Study Contact: Juliana Oyegunle Email: Phone: (212) 305-2434 STUDY: Conformal Prediction Enables Disease Course Prediction And Allows Individualized Diagnostic Uncertainty in Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Progression Tracker Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 401 Guests: Dr. Barbara Giesser /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36415995

Episode 400: The President and CEO of the National MS Society Looks Back at the Past and Shares a Vision of the Future with Dr. Tim Coetzee 04/28/2025

Episode 400: The President and CEO of the National MS Society Looks Back at the Past and Shares a Vision of the Future with Dr. Tim Coetzee Welcome to the 400th episode of RealTalk MS! Over the past nearly eight years, it's been my absolute honor to bring you insights from leading experts, researchers, advocates, and, perhaps most importantly, from people living with MS themselves. And we have no intention of stopping here! We're excited to continue bringing you the information and conversations that matter most to the MS community. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, looks back at a significant milestone that took place eighty years ago. Tim also shares his detailed vision of the future for people living with MS, and discusses some of the cutting-edge MS research that he's most excited about. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Welcome to episode 400! :18 Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, looks back at the past, shares his vision of the future, and discusses the MS research that he's most excited about 2:32 Share this episode 30:31 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 30:50 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 400 Guests: Dr. Tim Coetzee /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36301265

Episode 399: How Spirituality Can Make a Difference If You're Living with MS with Dr. Mana Ali Carter 04/21/2025

Episode 399: How Spirituality Can Make a Difference If You're Living with MS with Dr. Mana Ali Carter Research shows that spirituality can benefit mental health and improve overall well-being. And it can play a meaningful role in helping people cope with life’s challenges, like living with MS. This week, Dr. Mana Ali Carter, a rehabilitation psychologist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington D.C., joins me to discuss the positive effects that spirituality can have on the mind and body, and how it's been shown to make a difference for people living with MS. We're also sharing encouraging initial reports from a Phase 1 clinical trial for KYV-101, Kyverna's investigational CAR-T therapy for MS. We'll tell you about a positive report on two years of data from a Phase 2 clinical trial extension study for Frexalimab, a novel investigational disease-modifying therapy from Sanofi. We'll explain how the decision to discontinue federal matching funds for designated state health programs will have a direct impact on some people living with MS. And we'll tell you how you can register for the National MS Society's webinar in support of restoring federal funding for the MS Research Program. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: How spirituality can make a difference if you're living with MS :22 Initial reports from a Phase 1 clinical trial for a CAR-T therapy are encouraging 1:15 Two years of data from a Phase 2 extension study of Frexalimab are positive 3:07 The federal government will no longer provide matching funds for designated state health programs 5:47 The National MS Society is hosting a virtual event to support restoring federal funding for the MS Research Program 8:38 Dr. Mana Ali Carter explains how spirituality can make a difference in your life if you're living with MS 11:27 Share this episode 30:40 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 31:01 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] Participate in a Sanofi Clinical Trial Register for a Virtual Event: Restore the MS Research Program Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 399 Guests: Dr. Mana Ali Carter /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36227475

Episode 398: How Breakthrough Discoveries in MS Research Will Impact MS Care with Dr. Amit Bar-Or 04/14/2025

Episode 398: How Breakthrough Discoveries in MS Research Will Impact MS Care with Dr. Amit Bar-Or Last week, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Dr. Amit Bar-Or received the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for his multiple achievements that have advanced our knowledge of neuroimmunology, precision medicine, and biomarkers in MS. We talked with Dr. Bar-Or about how some of the latest discoveries in MS research would impact patient care. Tolebrutinib, an investigational disease-modifying therapy, is currently making its way through the FDA's regulatory process. Last week, the results of the Phase 3 clinical trials for Tolebrutinib were published, and we're sharing the details. We'll also tell you about MindGlide, an AI-powered tool for analyzing MRI scans that will significantly reduce MRI exam times. We're talking about the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial for high-dose Ocrevus. And we'll tell you about a cell therapy that doesn't use stem cells that successfully repaired myelin in the mouse model of MS -- twice! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Hauser and Dr. Alberto Ascherio :22 This Week: The impact of breakthrough MS research on MS care 2:17 Results of the phase 3 clinical trials for Tolebrutinib have been published 3:07 An AI-powered tool for analyzing MRI scans will significantly reduce MRI exam times for patients 4:21 Results of the phase 3 clinical trial for high-dose Ocrevus 8:13 A cell therapy that doesn't use stem cells has successfully repaired myelin in the mouse model of MS -- twice! 10:14 Dystel Prize winner Dr. Amit Bar-Or discusses how some of the latest discoveries in MS research will impact MS care 12:39 Share this episode 22:36 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 22:56 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] RealTalk MS Episode 310: The Face Laughs While The Brain Cries: The Education of a Doctor with Dr. Stephen Hauser RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra: Results from the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Relapsing-Remitting MS with Dr. Jiwon Oh VIDEO: RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra: Results from the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Relapsing-Remitting MS with Dr. Jiwon Oh VIDEO: RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra: Results from the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS with Dr. Robert Fox STUDY: Tolebrutinib Versus Teriflunomide in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Enabling New Insights from Old Scans By Repurposing Clinical MRI Archives for Multiple Sclerosis Research Fibroblast Technology Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 398 Guests: Dr. Amit Bar-Or /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36109755

Episode 397: Managing Grief and MS with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor 04/07/2025

Episode 397: Managing Grief and MS with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor For many people, it can be difficult to talk about the feelings of loss that can accompany MS. For some, it's the loss of the way they imagined their life would turn out. For others, it's the more specific loss of function. Perhaps the loss of their mobility. Or a decline in their cognitive skills. It's painful to imagine any of these scenarios, let alone experience them in real life. The human response to loss is grief. And grieving itself can affect your physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Joining me today to discuss how grieving can affect you, along with ways to best manage grief, is Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor. Dr. O'Connor is a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss, and Social Stress Lab, investigating the effects of grief on the brain and the body. Dr. O'Connor also lives with MS, and the title of her new book is The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing. We'll also share the results of a study on MS fatigue in Finland. We'll tell you about a study that focused on sexual dysfunction among women living with MS in Iran. You'll learn what a research team discovered when they connected sick days from work with the prodromal phase of MS. And we're sharing a new resource from the MS International Federation that will help you assess which wellness practices and complementary therapies may be beneficial for you. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Managing the grief that comes from living with MS :22 Results from a Finnish study adds further evidence to what we know about MS fatigue 1:36 Results of a study that focused on sexual dysfunction among women living with MS in Iran 3:13 Can job-related sick days help researchers better understand the prodromal phase of MS? 5:48 The MS International Federation has produced a very worthwhile guide to wellness practices and complementary therapies for people with MS 10:49 Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor discusses managing the grief that accompanies being diagnosed with MS 12:42 Share this episode 34:02 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 34:22 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] STUDY: Evaluation of Patient-Perceived Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Using the Finnish MS Registry STUDY: The Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction and Its Contributors Among the Women with Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: The Prodromal Phase of Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence from Sickness Absence Patterns Before Disease Onset -- A Matched Cohort Study STUDY (PLAIN ENGLISH VERSION): The Prodromal Phase of Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence from Sickness Absence Patterns Before Disease Onset -- A Matched Cohort Study DOWNLOAD: Wellness Practices and Complementary Therapies in MS Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 397 Guests: Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/36000360

Episode 396: The Importance of Cancer Screenings for People Living with MS With Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie 03/31/2025

Episode 396: The Importance of Cancer Screenings for People Living with MS With Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie Managing MS means staying focused not only on your MS but also on your overall health. That includes getting routine health screenings to stay ahead of potential complications. Recent research has shown that, compared to healthy people, people with MS are more likely to develop some cancers. Clinician-scientist Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie joins me to discuss which cancers pose a greater risk to someone with MS, why you need to make those appointments for cancer screenings, where you can find low-cost or no-cost cancer screenings, and things you can do to further minimize your risk of developing cancer. Dr. Marrie is a professor of medicine and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research Chair at Dalhousie University in Canada. She's a past recipient of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research and is recognized as one of the world's leading MS experts. We'll also explain how and why we're going to be discussing the impact of those devastating federal budget cuts and mass layoffs in the federal agencies responsible for healthcare and MS research on this podcast. We'll tell you about the FDA's decision to grant priority review to Tolebrutinib. (We'll also explain why Tolebrutinib isn't just another DMT. We're even sharing the projected date when the FDA will make its approval decision!) And you'll learn what happened when a research team set out to identify the diversity-related characteristics of the MS population in Canada. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! How we'll be talking about the impact of public policy on people affected by MS (and why we must) :22 Hear what's on the minds of some of the attendees at last week's National MS Society Public Policy Conference 3:55 This Week: The importance of cancer screenings for people with MS 12:52 Tolebrutinib, an investigative DMT from Sanofi, is granted priority review by the FDA 13:44 What happened when researchers set out to identify the diversity-related characteristics of the MS population in Canada 17:56 Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie discusses the importance of cancer screenings for people living with MS 20:02 Share this episode 30:03 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 30:23 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] VIDEO: Tolebrutinib and Non-Relapsing Secondary Progressive MS with Dr. Robert Fox VIDEO: Tolebrutinib and Relapsing-Remitting MS with Dr. Jiwon Oh VIDEO: RealTalk MS 2025 ACTRIMS Forum YouTube Playlist STUDY: Characterizing the Diversity of the Multiple Sclerosis Population in Canada: A Scoping Review STUDY (PLAIN ENGLISH VERSION): Characterizing the Diversity of the Multiple Sclerosis Population in Canada: A Scoping Review Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 396 Guests: Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/35918605

Episode 395: Things You Need to Know When You're Managing MS While You're Managing Menopause with Dr. Riley Bove 03/24/2025

Episode 395: Things You Need to Know When You're Managing MS While You're Managing Menopause with Dr. Riley Bove When you look at a list of the typical symptoms associated with perimenopause, you'd think you were looking at a list of MS symptoms. And, for women living with MS, that's where the confusion begins. With an estimated 30% of the current MS population now in peri- or post-menopause, researchers are beginning to focus on how menopause and MS interact and the best ways to treat symptoms. Dr. Riley Bove, a neurologist and founding director of the Sex and Gender-Enriched (SAGE) Neurology Program at the University of California San Francisco, joins me to talk about the things you need to know when you're managing MS while you're managing menopause. We'll also tell you about this year's winner of the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research. We'll share a deeply personal poem written by a friend who's been living with MS since 1988. And we'll tell you about the results of a study that should be a reminder of the importance of starting disease-modifying therapy and the value of early intervention. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're in Washington, D.C., at the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference :22 Dr. Amit-Bar-Or is the winner of the 2025 John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research 2:26 Magician Wayne Dobson's poem 7:07 STUDY: Cognitive impairment is prevalent among people living with untreated MS 10:23 Dr. Riley Bove talks about the things you need to know when you're managing MS while you're managing perimenopause and menopause 14:18 Share this episode 32:56 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 33:16 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] RealTalk MS 2025 ACTRIMS Forum YouTube Playlist Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 395 Guests: Dr. Riley Bove /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/35815425

Episode 394: Probably The Most Important Conversation About MS Advocacy That We Will Ever Have with Steffany Stern 03/17/2025

Episode 394: Probably The Most Important Conversation About MS Advocacy That We Will Ever Have with Steffany Stern Next week, a couple of hundred MS activists will gather in Washington, D.C. for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. As we're seeing devastating cuts in funding for MS research, layoffs in every major governmental agency that impacts our healthcare, including the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, CDC, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and even Medicaid funding is at serious risk, advocacy has never been more important than it is right now. I'm devoting this entire episode to a conversation with Steffany Stern, the National MS Society's Vice President for Advocacy, who joins me to assess the current legislative climate in Washington, D.C., and give us a preview of the issues that will take center stage at this year's Public Policy Conference. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Is there anything more urgent and important to discuss than advocacy? :22 Steffany Stern discusses the current legislative climate in our nation's capitol, and gives us a sneak peek at next week's National MS Society Public Policy Conference 2:16 Share this episode 25:40 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 26:08 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the ! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the or at Become an MS Activist Web: Email: [email protected] RealTalk MS 2025 ACTRIMS Forum YouTube Playlist Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Devices Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 394 Guests: Steffany Stern /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/35673405

Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Kristine Werner Ozug 03/14/2025

Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Emanuelle Waubant 03/14/2025

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