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.

Episode 477: One Year After CAR T-Cell Therapy with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik 10/19/2026

Episode 477: One Year After CAR T-Cell Therapy with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik Jan Janisch-Hanzlik was the first MS patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial. We met Jan last year, in episode 424 of RealTalk MS, when she gave us a first-hand report on how she was responding to this treatment. This week, Jan is back with an update on how she's responding to CAR T-cell therapy one year later. We're just two weeks away from the U.S. midterm elections. We're sharing some resources that will help you get ready to vote. And we'll remind you that MSToronto 2026 begins tomorrow, and you still have time to register for Patient Community Day. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: An update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy :22 Some homework to help get you ready to vote in the U.S. midterm elections 2:44 Jan Janisch-Hanzlik shares an update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy to treat her MS 6:37 Share this episode 28:11 Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 28:31 Next week 29:12 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 at DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: Android: REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 477 Guest: Jan Janisch-Hanzlik /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/43339854

Episode 476: MS in the Workplace with Dana Foote 10/12/2026

Episode 476: MS in the Workplace with Dana Foote What happens when you’re diagnosed with a chronic, unpredictable condition just as your career is taking off? That's exactly what happened to my guest, Dana Foote. This week, Dana joins us to share her journey from hiding her MS diagnosis as a young auditor at one of the largest accounting organizations in the world to becoming National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations and a leader in the MS community. We'll also update you on the status of a disease-modifying therapy that has been submitted to the FDA for review as a potential treatment for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS. We're sharing details of the National MS Society's recent $8.9 million investment to support 15 cutting-edge research projects. We'll tell you about a study that shows physical therapy can produce confirmed disability improvement for people living with MS. And we'll remind you that with MSToronto 2026 just one week away, you can still register for Patient Community Day. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Managing MS in a demanding, high-stakes work environment :22 The FDA grants fenebrutinib Priority Review status 1:22 The National MS Society announced $8.9 million in new research investments 4:53 A study shows ongoing physical therapy can lead to confirmed disability improvement 9:12 We're one week away from MSToronto 2026. Will you be part of Patient Community Day? 13:40 Dana Foote shares her corporate journey from a young auditor diagnosed with MS to National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations at KPMG US 15:40 Share this episode 33:20 Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 33:36 Next week 34:21 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 at DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: Android: REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 RealTalk MS Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh STUDY: Physiotherapy and Confirmed Disability Improvement in People with Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 476 Guest: Dana Foote /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/43258253

Episode 475: New Tools and Strategies for Managing MS-Related Cognitive Changes with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch 10/05/2026

Episode 475: New Tools and Strategies for Managing MS-Related Cognitive Changes with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch Whether it’s walking into a room and blanking on why you’re there, struggling to pull up a word that’s right on the tip of your tongue, or losing track of daily tasks, cognitive fatigue and brain fog can turn simple routines into exhausting hurdles. What makes cognitive changes particularly challenging is their invisibility. They don’t show up on a routine check-in like mobility issues do. Family members might misread them as distraction. Employers might see them as disengagement. And all too often, clinicians don’t have immediate, actionable tools to offer beyond standard advice. This week, we're talking with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a research neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Gromisch’s work focuses on moving beyond the diagnostic label to give people real, evidence-based compensatory tools. We're discussing the science of prospective memory—remembering to perform planned actions in the future—and exploring how smart digital tools, strategic daily systems, and patient empowerment can help you take control and maintain your independence. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: New tools and strategies for managing and even improving MS-related cognitive changes :22 We're less than 3 weeks away from MS Toronto 2026 Patient Community Day! Have you registered yet? 1:23 Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch shares a preview of new digital tools to measure and manage MS-related cogntive changes 2:19 Share this episode 28:39 Download the RealTalk MS app 28:58 Next week 29:42 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 at REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: Android: JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 475 Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/43167368

Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman 09/28/2026

Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman Most people don’t think about home accessibility until mobility changes force the conversation. But what if you decide to take control of the unknown and design your living space for whatever the future might bring? My guest, Sarah Timmerman, explains how she took total control of her future by designing and building what she calls The House That MS Built—a home engineered from the foundation up to future-proof her independence through smart, universal design and relentless self-advocacy. We'll also tell you about a research team that identified 4 biomarkers that, together, can help a neurologist understand whether a stem cell therapy is working for their patient weeks before that patient returns to the clinic. We're sharing results of a trial that answered the question, "Can diet actually change what's happening at the cellular level inside the brain?" You'll want to hear these results! And we'll tell you about a research team that has developed a derivative of an HIV medication that restored mobility and vision to mice with the mouse version of MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The House that MS Built :22 Have you downloaded the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device? 1:16 Researchers at Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York identify 4 biomarkers that can help physicians track the response to stem cell therapy in people living with progressive MS 2:01 New research identifies how gut health can lead to nerve cell damage in MS 4:49 Repurposed HIV medication restores lost function in the mouse model of MS 8:48 Sarah Timmerman shares her story and explains how relentless self-advocacy became the foundation for the House that MS Built 12:55 Share this episode 24:09 Next week 24:29 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 at DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: Android: REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 STUDY: Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Neural Progenitors on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: High-Fat Diet Promotes T-Cell Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 474 Guest: Sarah Timmerman /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/43043453

Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee 09/21/2026

Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee RealTalk MS is celebrating our ninth anniversary, and we’re marking the milestone with a special guest! Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, returns to the show for a candid, forward-looking conversation about why today represents one of the most promising moments for advancing MS research and transforming clinical care. We’re taking a hard look at the game-changers on the horizon: what it will take to shorten the diagnostic journey from years down to mere hours, why it’s time to retire outdated disease labels in favor of true precision medicine, and the surprising science behind testing GLP-1s for neuroprotection. From unlocking massive clinical data sets to fighting for research dollars on Capitol Hill, Tim pulls back the curtain on the Society's strategic plan to end MS once and for all. Pop in your earbuds and join us in celebrating nine years of community and conversation! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Dr. Tim Coetzee briefs us on the National MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care :18 Download the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet 1:56 We gave the RealTalk MS website a glow-up! 2:37 Check your congressional representative's grade in the Congressional Healthcare Access Report Card 3:07 Dr. Tim Coetzee discusses the MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care 3:46 Share this episode 37:04 Next week 37:24 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 at REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: Android: JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 473 Guest: Dr. Tim Coetzee /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42976168

Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves 09/14/2026

Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves We are less than 40 days away from MSToronto2026—the joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Scientific Congress. While the congress brings together the world’s leading MS researchers and clinicians, Patient Community Day —in person and online—is designed specifically for people affected by multiple sclerosis. This week, Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond join me to preview what to expect from Patient Community Day 2026. With less than 50 days until the midterm elections in the United States, the National MS Society is hosting a webinar you can't afford to miss, titled MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care. We'll tell you how to register (And we'll remind you why you should!). A 22-country survey of over 17,000 people with MS revealed that the invisible symptoms of MS remain critically unaddressed. We're sharing the details of this landmark survey. We're sharing early trial results of a precision red blood cell therapy designed to halt myelin attacks without shutting down the immune system. We'll tell you about the German research team that's repurposing a common, low-cost medication into a skin patch designed to jumpstart natural remyelination. And we'll share a study showing how simple, short voice recordings can predict long-term cognitive changes and brain volume loss in people living with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A preview of Patient Community Day 2026 :22 The National MS Society is hosting a webinar you shouldn't miss 1:32 Results of a landmark survey reveal critical unmet needs among people living with MS 5:27 A new approach to preventing MS inflammatory attacks while keeping the rest of the immune system intact 8:27 Could a skin patch successfully promote myelin repair? 11:42 Can analyzing regular speech predict future brain atrophy in people with MS? 14:34 Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond give us a preview of Patient Community Day 2026 18:53 Share this episode 33:01 Next week 33:20 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 at REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 WEBINAR: Advocacy In Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care STUDY: Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Survey: Patient-Reported Data on the Prevalence, Burden, and Management of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Europe STUDY: Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Peptide-Coupled Red Blood Cells Induces Antigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells STUDY: Automated Speech Analysis Reveals Progressive Linguistic Changes Associated With Subsequent Gray Matter Loss in Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 472 Guest: Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42889335

Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis 09/07/2026

Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis Relapses make life with MS unpredictable. Understanding what they are, why they happen, and how best to manage them can make a relapse less scary and easier to navigate. This week, Dr. Gabriela Karolidis, a board-certified neurologist and neuroimmunologist at Thomas Jefferson University, joins us for a deep dive into MS relapses. The MS International Federation has just updated the Atlas of MS, showing more than 3 million people living with MS worldwide. We're sharing the details behind the new numbers. We'll also share a study showing how wearable activity trackers add a dimension of real-world data that provides a more complete picture of an individual's mobility throughout the day. We'll tell you about research on Vitamin D supplements that fails to determine whether they are beneficial for people living with MS. We're sharing study results showing that social and socioeconomic factors clearly affect cognitive function among people living with MS. We're also sharing results from a nationwide study in Denmark that focused on whether high-efficacy DMTs affect progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). And we'll tell you about a fall prevention study that you may be eligible to participate in (compensation provided!). We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Navigating a relapse :22 Global MS prevalence surpasses 3 million :57 A study shows that wearable activity trackers help create a more complete picture of an individual's mobility 6:38 Researchers attempt to determine whether Vitamin D supplements help people living with MS 10:14 A study provides evidence that social and socioeconomic factors impact cognitive function in people living with MS 13:58 A nationwide study in Denmark focuses on whether high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies have an impact on progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) 17:20 You may be eligible to participate in a fall prevention study (compensation is provided) 21:11 Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis takes us on a deep dive into MS relapses 22:58 Share this episode 37:52 Next week 38:12 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 at STUDY: Global Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis Surpasses 3 Million: 2024 Update of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS RESOURCE: Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS STUDY: Diurnal Step Count Patterns in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Effect on Relapse Frequency and MRI Activity in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review STUDY: Social and Socioeconomic Factors and Cognitive Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Effectiveness of Escalation Versus Early High-Efficacy Therapies on Progression Independent of Relapse Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: A Danish Nationwide Study PARTICIPATE: University of Illinois Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life Research Laboratory Fall Prevention Study Email: REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 471 Guest: Dr. Gabriela Karolidis /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42791935

Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins 08/31/2026

Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins Wise men and women remind us that life is a marathon, and not a sprint. Joining us this week is Benji Wilkins. Benji is a magician in the U.K., and for 42 days this summer, his life was quite literally a marathon. In the process, Benji raised money to help his mom, who lives with MS, and he raised awareness of MS across the U.K. and around the world. We're also sharing results of a study that focused on gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people living with MS. We'll tell you how you can participate in the MOMENT-MS study and help researchers develop a smartphone app that takes a novel approach to managing MS-related pain. And we're reminding you to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. It's your opportunity to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Running a marathon a day (when you're not a runner) for MS :22 Cleveland Clinic researchers look at gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people with MS 1:02 University of Washington researchers are developing an app to manage MS pain using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. And you can help them! 6:53 Sign up to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world 5:27 Benji Wilkins describes what it's like to run 42 marathons in 42 days on behalf of his mom, who lives with MS 6:53 Share this episode 29:01 Next week 29:20 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 at STUDY: Feasibility and Outcomes of Gait Training With a Powered Exoskeleton in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis SUPPORT: Marathons For Mum Web: Instagram: PARTICIPATE: MOMENT-MS Study Web: Email: Video: REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 470 Guest: Benji Wilkins /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42603355

Episode 469: Maintaining and Even Improving Cognitive Function If You're Living with MS with Dr. Anna Kratz 08/24/2026

Episode 469: Maintaining and Even Improving Cognitive Function If You're Living with MS with Dr. Anna Kratz Cognitive changes in MS—fluctuations in processing speed, memory, and executive function—can significantly impact daily life, yet they're often misunderstood or overlooked in routine clinical exams. This week, we are joined by Dr. Anna Kratz, clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, to discuss actionable, evidence-based ways to navigate cognitive challenges. Dr. Kratz breaks down the latest findings from the CogDetect-MS study, exploring how daily symptom fluctuations, complex medication regimens, and common substances like caffeine and cannabis influence brain fog. She also shares practical compensatory workarounds and introduces a no-cost digital self-management resource, My MSToolKit. We'll also explain the new framework for describing MS that's been proposed by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis. We're sharing study results that reveal why detecting even a single silent lesion on an MRI should trigger an immediate conversation about stepping up to high-efficacy therapy. And we'll tell you about 2 advanced MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline — even in the absence of any relapses or new lesions on MRI. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Maintaining and improving cognitive function :22 The International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis calls for updating the way MS is described 1:12 A study provides evidence for switching your DMT when there's even a single silent lesion on your MRI 6:53 Scientists identify two MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline in early relapsing-remitting MS 10:53 Dr. Anna Kratz discusses maintaining and improving cognitive function 15:33 Share this episode 42:13 Next week 42:33 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 at PAPER: Towards a Biologically Informed Description of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Course -- A Roadmap for Transition STUDY: Treatment Escalation After Clinically Silent MRI Lesions in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Paramagnetic Rim Lesions and Choroid Plexus Volume at Diagnosis Are Associated With Cognitive Progression Independent of Relapse and MRI Activity in Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.70448 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 469 Guest: Dr. Anna Kratz /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42522880

Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva 08/17/2026

Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva Imagine your spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with MS...shortly after you were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and given just a 15% chance of survival. All of a sudden, the roles of patient and care partner are up for grabs -- and they change with almost daily frequency. That's exactly the scenario my guest, Kathleen Silva, faced. Kathleen is joining me to discuss how she and her husband, Rick, survived and thrived amid that frightening chaos. (Spoiler alert -- no one died!) We'll also tell you about an investigational drug that's the first to promise neuroprotection during an MS relapse. We're sharing study results that show people with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon. We'll provide compelling evidence for anyone with MS to quit smoking. And we're breaking down the results of a study that analyzed mortality rates in cases where MS was listed as the underlying cause of death. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: When the roles of patient and care partner get turned upside down and inside out :22 The FDA green lights clinical trials for an investigational drug that promises neuroprotection during an MS relapse 1:08 People living with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon 5:43 Study results provide startling evidence for quitting smoking if you're living with MS 8:34 In spite of highly effective DMTs, mortality rates for deaths in which MS is listed as the underlying cause are increasing 14:05 Kathleen Silva takes us through the harrowing time in her life when her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with MS shortly after she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and given just a 15% chance of surviving 19:23 Share this episode 35:12 Next week 36:31 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 at STUDY: Use of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Among People with Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Impact of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption on Disease Progression and MRI In People With Multiple Sclerosis: Results of the Prospective Cohort Study NationMS STUDY: Racial and Ethnic Trends and Comorbidity Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis Mortality REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 468 Guest: Kathleen Silva /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42447360

Episode 467: Making Shared Decision-Making Work with Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman 08/10/2026

Episode 467: Making Shared Decision-Making Work with Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman If you Google the term "shared decision making", you'll find it defined as a collaborative process where patients and clinicians work together to select tests, treatments, and care plans based on clinical evidence and the patient's personal values and goals. But shared decision-making isn't an automatic happy pill. It takes work, it takes discipline, and it takes a clear understanding of both the patient's and the clinician's roles. This week, Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman join me to share how shared decision-making has worked for them over the course of their longtime doctor-patient relationship, and how it can work for you. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into shared decision-making :22 Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman discuss how they have made shared decision-making work, and what to do if it isn't working for you and your neurologist 2:39 Share this episode 32:05 Next week 32:25 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 at JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 467 Guests: Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42361460

Episode 466: Everything You Ought to Know About Diet and MS with Dr. Tyler Titcomb 08/03/2026

Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra 07/27/2026

Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra During his fellowship in the United States, Dr. Avinash Chandra trained to become an MS specialist at a world-class MS center. Then he returned home to Nepal and discovered that MS was largely considered non-existent. But Dr. Chandra knew it wasn't. In this week's episode, Dr. Chandra discusses his experience creating a framework for MS care in Nepal that hadn't existed before. He also explains the necessary trade-offs in providing costly medical treatment in a country where the average family of four lives on an income of $500 a month. It's been well-established that males living with MS tend to experience faster and more severe disease progression than females. We're sharing results of a study that shows clear differences in healthcare use by sex up to a decade before the onset of MS. We'll tell you about a newly published review of 30 years of data measuring the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). And we're sharing the registration details for ECTRIMS Community Patient Day (it's a free live and online event you won't want to miss!) We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: MS care in a country that considered MS non-existent :22 A study analyzed sex differences in healthcare usage between males and females with MS up to a decade before the first MS symptom develops 1:45 30 years of accumulated data show significant benefits of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in treating relapsing forms of MS 6:17 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research 9:32 Dr. Avniash Chandra discusses MS care in Nepal 12:43 Share this episode 35:40 Next week 36:01 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 at STUDY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event LISTEN: Dr. Helen Tremlett Discusses the MS Prodrome STUDY: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day SUPPORT: National MS Society Research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 465 Guest: Dr. Avinash Chandra /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42213390

Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom 07/20/2026

Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom If you’ve spent any time at all living with or caring for someone with multiple sclerosis, you know that medical textbooks and information-filled websites can give us facts, figures, and symptoms, but they rarely capture the sometimes messy, sometimes overwhelming, and sometimes darkly funny reality of what it actually feels like to get a diagnosis of MS and realize your life has suddenly shifted under your feet. Our guest, Liat Shalom, was diagnosed with MS in 2021, at the age of 30. Instead of letting that diagnosis define her, Liat picked up her pen and created Unravelled—a groundbreaking graphic memoir that refuses to sugar-coat the MS experience. For about five years, we've known that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) triggers MS. We'll explain what biologists just discovered about how EBV triggers MS, and what that could mean for future treatments. We're sharing evidence from an important study that shows a simple blood test is as accurate as MRI in determining whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse. We're sharing details of a study showing that virtual reality (VR) therapy is effective in treating MS-related brain fog. And if you're a woman between the ages of 45 and 60 and you're experiencing perimenopause, we'll share an easy way for you to participate in MS research without leaving home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Unravalled, Liat Shalom's darkly humorous graphic novel about her MS journey :22 Scientists discover how the Epstein-Barr virus triggers MS 1:53 A simple blood test can determine whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse 4:08 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research 6:58 Virtual reality therapy can improve MS-related brain fog 9:16 An opportunity to participate in MS research for women between 45-60 who are experiencing perimenopause 11:41 Liat Shalom discusses her journey to an MS diagnosis that led her to create Unravalled, a darkly humorous graphic memoir 13:11 Share this episode 30:32 Next week 30:52 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 at Unravelled: The Story of an MS Warrior by Liat Shalom STUDY: CD4+ T-Cells Reactive to Epstein-Barr Virus Late Lytic Antigens are Enriched in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Utility of Multi-Analyte Protein Assay to Distinguish Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Relapse from Pseudoexacerbation STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH: Perimenopause and Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/ms-study-alert-perimenopause-survey STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review SUPPORT: National MS Society Research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 464 Guest: Liat Shalom /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42138950

Episode 463: A Novel Approach to Treating MS-Related Depression with Dr. Robert Motl and Kelly 07/13/2026

Episode 463: A Novel Approach to Treating MS-Related Depression with Dr. Robert Motl and Kelly Living with depression has been described as "like living under a wet, heavy blanket". It can stop someone from showing up at work, meeting up with friends, and even connecting with their family. One out of every two people living with MS will experience depression at some point in their MS journey. The METS for MS study is focused on a novel approach to treating major depressive disorder among people with MS -- one that doesn't require another infusion, injection, or pill. This week, Dr. Robert Motl, principal investigator for the METS for MS study, joins us to explain what the study is about and what his team is learning. And Kelly, who lives with progressive MS, joins us to share how her participation in the study became life-changing. We'll also tell you about the $500,000 donation to MS research that Fernando Mendoza and his family just made. We're sharing the details about the CAR-NKT cell therapy for MS that's being developed at UCLA. You'll learn about the novel nanoparticle therapy for MS that's being developed by a team at Syracuse University's BioInspired Institute. And we're sharing the surprising results of a study that measured the effectiveness of Rituximab versus Ocrevus. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A study focusing on a novel approach to treating MS-related depression :22 Fernando Mendoza and his family donate $500,000 to MS research 1:18 UCLA research team receives a $7.49 million dollar grant to develop CAR-NKT therapy for MS 2:22 Syracuse University research team receives NIH grant to develop novel nanoparticle therapy for MS 6:22 Study results: Rituximab and Ocrevus were compared head-to-head and the results are surprising 9:43 Dr. Robert Motl explains the Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis, and Kelly explains how her participation in the study turned out to be life-changing 14:22 Share this episode 35:43 Next week 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 at STUDY: Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis PARTICIPATE: Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis (METS for MS) Email: Phone Ariel: (312) 355-1790 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 463 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl, Kelly /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/42043950

Episode 462: Taking Your MS to College? Understand Your Right to Accommodation with Britt Neff 07/06/2026

Episode 462: Taking Your MS to College? Understand Your Right to Accommodation with Britt Neff The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that people living with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations at work. That law also applies to students attending most colleges and universities. And the ADA doesn't limit itself to physical disabilities. It's often applied to invisible disabilities, as well. This week, Britt Neff, the Access Specialist at the University of Washington School of Law, joins me to explain all the ways the accommodation process can work for college students living with MS. We'll also tell you about PTD802, an oral remyelination therapy that's just been given a green light from the FDA to begin human clinical trials We're sharing evidence from an important study that should make you feel more confident about getting those MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines. You'll learn what researchers at the Cleveland Clinic discovered when they asked the question, "Can someone living with MS over the age of 60 discontinue their disease-modifying therapy?" And we're sharing the details about an AI application that can predict -- with 90% accuracy -- whether someone with MS is at risk of experiencing cognitive decline over the next few years. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Understanding "reasonable accommodation" at college :22 FDA approves oral remyelination therapy PTD802 for Phase 1 clinical trial 1:07 Study results: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines are shown to be safe for people with MS 4:52 Study results: Is it safe for someone living with MS over 60 to discontinue their DMT? 7:34 Study results: AI predicts future cognitive changes among people with MS with 90% accuracy 10:45 Britt Neff explains the many types of accommodation available to college students with MS 15:01 Share this episode 28:24 Next week 28:44 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 at Pheno Therapeutics STUDY: Live Attenuated MMR and Varicella Vaccinations and Multiple Sclerosis Activity STUDY: Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Over Age 60: Comparing Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Disease-Modifying Therapy Continuers and Discontinuers STUDY: Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Neurocognitive Disorder Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Using MRI and Clinical Data JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 462 Guest: Britt Neff /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41965380

Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh 06/29/2026

Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh A short while ago, we shared very positive results from the Phase 3 clinical trials for fenebrutinib in both relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS. Those results have been submitted to the FDA for approval. This week, Dr. Jiwon Oh, the principal investigator in one of the Phase 3 trials for fenebrutinib, walks us through these positive results and explains what makes fenebrutinib a different kind of disease-modifying therapy and who might benefit most from it. We're also talking about the European approval of Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) to treat nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS, and we'll share our perspective on why the FDA should have -- and should still -- approve this DMT in the U.S. We'll tell you about two studies funded by the National MS Society that will focus on identifying links between menopause and MS. We'll share some sobering news about healthcare affordability in America. And we'll share some good news from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, along with an opportunity for you to spend just 5 minutes doing some important advocacy work. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Fenebrutinib has been submitted to the FDA for approval :22 Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) approved in Europe for Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS 1:09 National MS Society funds two studies to identify links between menopause and MS 4:19 Healthcare has become unaffordable for the majority of Americans 8:23 The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has approved $20 million in funding for the MS Research Program 11:57 Dr. Jiwon Oh explains why Fenebrutinib is a different kind of disease-modifying therapy, and who may benefit from it 15:36 Share this episode 32:22 Next week 32:43 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 at PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL: Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis VIDEO: Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Fox Discusses the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS GALLUP POLL: U.S. Adults' Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 461 Guest: Dr. Jiwon Oh /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41847680

Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman 06/22/2026

Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman Next week, Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the 350-mile length of Ireland with MS. This week, you'll meet Matt and Colin and learn why this undertaking is so important to each of them. We're also sharing survey results that point to gaps in how we approach MS care from the day of diagnosis. We'll tell you what it really means when you read that the prevalence of MS is increasing. It isn't bad news at all! We'll provide you with all the details you need to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. And, if you can spare 20 minutes, we'll tell you how you can participate in an MS research study from the comfort of your own home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're hitting the open road in Ireland with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman :22 Survey points to gaps in how we approach MS care from day one 2:48 What does the increase in MS prevalence really mean? 8:48 Register for ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day 12:33 An opportunity for you to participate in MS research without leaving home 14:10 Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman talk about their attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the length of Ireland with MS 15:56 Share this episode 32:13 Next week 32:33 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 at STUDY: Understanding the Unmet Needs of People with MS at Diagnosis and Throughout Their Care Journey: Insights from a Survey-Based Study STUDY: Drivers of Prevalence in Major Motor Neurodegenerative Diseases: Temporal Trends in Sweden and France (2003-2022) REGISTER: ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day PARTICPATE IN RESEARCH: Survey: Automatic and Reflective Determinants, Fatigue, and Physical Activity for People with Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 460 Guest: Matt Knaggs, Colin Goodman /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41706960

Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice 06/15/2026

Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice For years, the standard medical advice for someone diagnosed with multiple sclerosis was simple, cautious, and as we now know, incredibly limiting: “Take it easy. Don't overexert yourself. And get plenty of rest.” Today, like almost every other aspect of MS care, neurological rehabilitation is being entirely rewritten. It’s no longer about just managing decline; it’s about leveraging emerging technologies to proactively build resilience, retrain the brain, and adopt cutting-edge exercise science to fundamentally change the trajectory of life with MS. This week, three experts share their thoughts on what MS rehabilitation looks like in 2026...and it's not your father's MS rehab! Dr. Brian Sandroff breaks down his groundbreaking research on how tailored exercise regimens—like treadmill walking—can actually improve memory, boost processing speed, and spark cognitive recovery. Dr. Brad Willingham discusses the game-changing world of continuous remote monitoring, explaining how wearable sensors and AI are turning real-world, 24/7 data into hyper-personalized, dynamic treatment plans. And Dr. Laura Rice delivers a practical exercise blueprint for individuals with MS who use wheelchairs. You'll learn how to jumpstart a safe fitness routine while effectively managing risks like heat sensitivity, shoulder overuse, skin breakdown, and the fear of falling. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into MS rehabilitation :22 Dr. Brian Sandroff answers the question, "Can exercise be used to treat cognitive impairment?" 2:10 Dr. Brad Willingham explains how AI can play a meaningful role in MS rehabilitation and clinical care 13:41 Dr. Laura Rice shares tips and strategies for exercising safely if you rely on a wheelchair for mobility 26:18 Share this episode 46:27 Next week 46:47 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 at JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 459 Guest: Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41623275

Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger 06/08/2026

Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger This week, our coverage of the Consortium of MS Centers annual meeting continues with my guest, Dr. Stephen Krieger. In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Krieger offers a very encouraging clinical trial update, shares his thoughts on what treating someone living with advanced MS ought to look like, and points out potential obstacles to implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS. Dr. Krieger is a Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and a Multiple Sclerosis Specialist at the Corinne Coldsmith Dickinson Center for MS. We're also sharing results of a study that revealed some surprising connections between caffeine, alcohol, opioids, and MS symptoms. And if you're living with MS and you're the parent of a young child, we'll tell you about a book that belongs on your bookshelf. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're at the CMSC annual meeting with Dr. Stephen Krieger :22 Study reveals the connection between caffeine, alcohol, and opioids and your MS symptoms 1:12 My Superhero with Wheels is the book you need if you're living with MS and have young children 5:15 Dr. Stephen Krieger discusses exciting clinical trial results, treating people with advanced MS, and potential challenges in implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS 8:39 Share this episode 30:22 Next week 30:41 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 at STUDY: Daily Temporal Associations Between Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People with Multiple Sclerosis BOOK: My Superhero with Wheels JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 458 Guest: Dr. Stephen Krieger /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41554015

Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove 06/01/2026

Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove Last week, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, best known as CMSC, hosted its annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we had a chance to talk with some of the world's top MS experts. We'll be sharing those conversations over the next few episodes of the podcast. Welcome to Part One of our coverage of CMSC 2026! In what has become an annual tradition at this conference, Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, joins me to share her impressions of the sessions and presentations that stood out to her. I also caught up with Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove on the first day of the CMSC annual meeting, and we discussed how wearable devices and digital tools are finding their way into MS care and how they can improve the quality of care for people living with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're reporting from CMSC :22 Dr. Kathy Zackowski shares the CMSC presentations that caught her eye 1:04 Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove discuss how wearable devices and digital tools are reshaping MS care 14:29 Share this episode 28:20 Next week 28:39 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 at JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 457 Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, Dr. Riley Bove /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41486085

Episode 456:The First 100 Days Following Your MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte 05/25/2026

Episode 456:The First 100 Days Following Your MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is "My MS Diagnosis," and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, "You have MS." This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis. Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society’s National Medical Advisory Committee. We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS. And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: World MS Day! :22 Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS 2:40 Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS 4:34 Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis 8:40 Share this episode 28:51 Next week 29:12 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 at World MS Day Poster Maker STUDY: The Exercise Hormone Irisin Has Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis CLINICAL TRIAL: A Study of Nasal Foralumab in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 456 Guest: Dr. Nancy Sicotte /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41385825

Episode 455: MS and Your Oral Health with Dr. Ann Spolarich 05/18/2026

Episode 455: MS and Your Oral Health with Dr. Ann Spolarich When we talk about managing Multiple Sclerosis, our conversations naturally focus on things like disease-modifying therapies, mobility, MRI scans, and symptom management. But in this week's episode, we're shining a light on a critical aspect of MS wellness that doesn't get nearly enough attention: your oral health. Living with MS can introduce a whole host of unexpected challenges to maintaining a healthy mouth. And beyond preventing tooth decay and gum disease, emerging research suggests that chronic oral inflammation, like periodontal disease, can trigger systemic inflammation throughout the body. Dr. Ann Spolarich joins us to break down the science, explain the risks, and offer practical suggestions for maintaining oral health for people living with MS and their care partners. We're also sharing study results that revealed 1,000 differences between immune cells in men and women. (And we're explaining why that's important) If you're a parent or caregiver for a child or teen with MS, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the FDA approval of Ocrevus for treating pediatric MS. We're sharing the details of an AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time. We're sharing the details of another AI partnership designed to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue. And we'll tell you about a way that you can participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The connection between your oral health and MS :22 Study reveals 1,000 differences between men's and women's immune cells 1:30 FDA approves Ocrevus for children over the age of 10 with relapsing remitting MS 3:28 An AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time 5:43 An AI partnership to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue 9:24 An opportunity to participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home 13:16 Dr. Ann Spolarich discusses the connection between your oral health and MS 13:16 Share this episode 29:45 Next week 30:05 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 at STUDY: The Impact of Sex on the Immune System Explored at the Single-Cell Level https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(26)00153-9 ONLINE SURVEY: Bladder-Related Fall Risk in People with MS JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 455 Guest: Dr. Ann Spolarich /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41322470

Episode 454: Managing MS-Related Depression with Dr. Anthony Feinstein 05/11/2026

Episode 454: Managing MS-Related Depression with Dr. Anthony Feinstein One out of every two people with MS will experience clinical depression at some point in their MS journey, making depression one of the most significant yet under-discussed aspects of living with MS. While the physical symptoms of MS often take center stage, the neuropsychiatric challenges can be just as impactful on an individual's overall quality of life and long-term outcomes. Joining us to shed some light on this important topic is Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a world-renowned neuropsychiatrist and professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Feinstein has spent decades researching the biological and psychological drivers of depression in MS. We're also sharing study results revealing that wait times to see a neurologist in the U.S. are way too long. We'll tell you about a pilot trial that's recruiting participants for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination. We're just two days away from the National MS Society's webcast on protecting federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA. We're sharing all the details and info to register. And we'll tell you all about the MS Society's statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Managing MS-Related Depression :22 Study results reveal wait times for an appointment with a neurologist in the U.S. 1:45 A pilot clinical trial for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination 4:38 A webcast to update you on the National MS Society's advocacy efforts to protect federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA 7:05 The National MS Society has submitted a critical statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare 8:39 Dr. Anthony Feinstein discusses the latest research and strategies for managing MS-related depression 11:00 Share this episode 29:37 Next week 28:56 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 at STUDY: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States STUDY RESULTS: Neurology Wait Times After Primary Care or Emergency Department Visits Among the Commercially Insured Population in the United States: 2019-2023 CLINICAL TRIAL: The SetPoint System as a Pro-Remyelination Therapy for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study WEBCAST: Make It Count Now: Mobilizing for Federal Funding in a Changing Policy Landscape READ: The National MS Society Statement for The Record: "Profits Over Patients: The PBM Business Model Under Scrutiny" AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 454 Guest: Dr. Anthony Feinstein /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41235205

Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove 05/04/2026

Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove For decades, an MS diagnosis came with outdated advice and significant uncertainty regarding starting a family. Today, the conversation has shifted from "Is it possible?" to "How do we optimize the journey?" This week, we're taking a deep dive into the essential considerations for family planning, managing MS during pregnancy, and the crucial postpartum period. We're joined by Dr. Riley Bove, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a leading expert in hormonal influences on MS. Dr. Bove brings her extensive research background and clinical expertise to help us understand how to navigate disease-modifying therapies while planning a family, the biological shifts that occur during pregnancy, and how to build a robust support system for the "fourth trimester." We're also sharing study results that provide some optimistic news for people experiencing MS-related depression. We'll tell you about a study that explains the actual changes in the immune system that occur when someone with MS exercises. If you get your health insurance on the Affordable Care Act online marketplace, we'll explain why health economists feel certain that your premiums will be going up again next year. And we're also sharing some sobering research that highlights systemic inequities that prevent people with MS who rely on Medicaid from accessing high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: MS and family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum :22 STUDY: High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies are not available to all Medicaid recipients 1:08 Millions have failed to renew their ACA individual health insurance plans 5:05 STUDY: Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves MS-related depression 9:32 STUDY: Researchers identify the biological mechanisms that are impacted when people with MS exercise 11:29 Dr. Riley Bove discusses family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum issues that affect women with MS 14:48 Share this episode 35:31 Next week 35:50 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 at STUDY: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States STUDY: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis STUDY: Physical Exercise Modulates T Cell Activity and Mitigates Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Through Vagus Nerve Engagement UCSF Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA) AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 453 Guest: Dr. Riley Bove /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41126535

Episode 452: Why Natural Myelin Repair Stops Working for People with MS (And How It Could Be Re-Started!) with Dr. Larry Sherman 04/29/2026

Episode 452: Why Natural Myelin Repair Stops Working for People with MS (And How It Could Be Re-Started!) with Dr. Larry Sherman Myelin repair is a natural function. But, for people living with MS, that ability to repair myelin eventually stops working. New research led by my guest, Dr. Larry Sherman, may explain why that happens and point to new possibilities for future myelin repair treatments. Dr. Sherman is a professor at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, and his research focuses on how the brain and spinal cord respond to injury and disease, particularly in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis. We're also sharing some potentially good news for people living with non-relapsing secondary progressive MS in Europe, but not in the United States. We'll give you the details about an experimental drug that's just been submitted to the FDA and EMA for approval for treating relapsing forms of MS and primary progressive MS. We'll share the results of a study that focused on the impact of a cancer diagnosis on MS care. We'll tell you how Fernando Mendoza celebrated being named the #1 pick in this year's NFL draft. And we're sharing news about a new AI tool for your doctor. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Why myelin repair stops working for people living with MS :22 EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommends approval of Tolebrutinib 1:35 Roche submits Fenebrutinib for FDA and EMA approval 4:45 Study results show the effect of a cancer diagnosis on MS care 6:13 The first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza, partners with the National MS Society to launch the Mendoza Family Fund 9:43 OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Clinicians 10:56 Dr. Larry Sherman discusses why myelin repair stops working for people with MS, and how his team may have found a way to restart it 14:37 Share this episode 27:59 Next week 28:19 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 at LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 440: An MS Specialist Responds to the FDA with Dr. William Conte STUDY: Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study STUDY (Plain English Version): Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/04/23/impact-of-cancer-on-multiple-sclerosis-related-healthcare-and-disease-modifying-drug-use-a-multinational-cohort-study-explained DONATE: The Mendoza Family Fund (in Partnership with the National MS Society) LEARN MORE: ChatGPT For Clinicians AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 452 Guest: Dr. Larry Sherman /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/41021145

Episode 451: Meet the 2026 Winner of the John Dystel Prize for MS Research with Dr. Ludwig Kappos 04/20/2026

Episode 451: Meet the 2026 Winner of the John Dystel Prize for MS Research with Dr. Ludwig Kappos The annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology is underway in Chicago this week, and one of the highlights is the presentation of the John Dystel Prize for Research in Multiple Sclerosis, awarded jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology. This year's winner of the Dystel Prize is Dr. Ludwig Kappos, a physician-scientist at the University Hospital Basel in Basel, Switzerland, and the director of the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel. Dr. Kappos has played a major role in how clinical trials in MS are conducted. He helped establish the Expanded Disability Status Scale, or EDSS, which is the gold standard for measuring disability in people with MS, and Dr. Kappos and his team have advanced our current understanding of a key driver of disability in MS, known as progression independent of relapse activity, or PIRA. Dr. Kappos will be delivering the Dystel Prize lecture at the American Academy of Neurology meeting this week, and he's joining us to share a preview of that lecture in a conversation you won't want to miss. We're also sharing news about a blood test used to monitor MS disease activity that has just been approved by the European Union. We'll give you the details of a study focused on whether disease-modifying therapies can impact neurodevelopmental birth defects in children born to mothers with MS. We'll explain why yaks and Tibetan antelope may have opened a door to neuroprotection and myelin repair for people living with MS. And we'll tell you where healthcare providers and patients may differ when it comes to defining high-quality MS care. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research is awarded :22 A blood test to monitor MS disease activity is approved by the EU 2:28 Researchers determine whether disease-modifying therapies have an impact on neurodevelopmental birth defects among children born to mothers with MS 4:21 Researchers studying yaks and Tibetan antelope may have uncovered a pathway to neuroprotection and even myelin repair 7:24 Healthcare providers and people living with MS share their perspectives on what needs improvement in delivering high-quality MS care 10:01 Dr. Ludwig Kappos reflects on how MS clinical trials need to change 13:33 Share this episode 30:58 Next week 31:19 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 at STUDY: Association of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Congenital Anomalies with Prenatal Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: Real World Historial Cohort Study STUDY: A Gain-of-Function Retstat Variant from High-Altitude Adaptation Promotes Myelination Via a Neuronal Dihydroretinoic Acid-RXR-Y Pathway ARTICLE: Areas for Improvement for High-Quality Multiple Sclerosis Care: Insights from Interviews with People with Multiple Sclerosis, Providers, and Clinical Educators AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 451 Guest: Dr. Ludwig Kappos /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/40918060

Episode 450: Exercise is Medicine for People with MS with Dr. Robert Motl 04/13/2026

Episode 450: Exercise is Medicine for People with MS with Dr. Robert Motl An exercise program can be hard to start and even more difficult to stick with. But the evidence-based benefits speak for themselves. For people living with MS, it can mean improving quality of life without having to rely on a pill, injection, or infusion. And exercise is 100% affordable! Dr. Robert Motl, the Director of the Exercise Neuroscience Research Laboratory at the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, joins me to discuss how exercise can improve MS-related brain fog, reduce fatigue, and perhaps even support myelin repair. We'll also share the results of a study that shows having mononucleosis is a significant risk factor for developing MS. And we'll tell you about a powerful imaging agent that can identify which immune cells are causing the inflammatory activity that drives MS, determine disease severity, and track the immune system's response to disease-modifying therapy. It's a potential game-changer in MS care. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Evidence-based benefits of exercise for people living with MS :22 Study results show that having mono increases the chance that someone will develop MS 1:28 Researchers have created an imaging agent with the potential to be a game-changer in diagnosing and treating MS 4:29 Dr. Robert Motl explains how and why exercise can be medicine for people with MS 10:04 Share this episode 31:50 Next week 32:10 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 at STUDY: Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Among Persons with Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mononucleosis STUDY: A Radiolabeled Dendrimer Non-Invasively Identifies and Tracks Innate Immune Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 450 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/40807065

Episode 449: Putting People Affected by MS at the Center of MS Research with Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt 04/06/2026

Episode 449: Putting People Affected by MS at the Center of MS Research with Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt When you join the iConquer MS community, you’re no longer just a patient; you become a research partner. Not just a data point in someone's study. You become the person to suggest the study, to help define the study, and to participate in sharing the outcome of the study. In this week's episode, I talk with the iConquer MS leadership team about what it means to be part of this people-powered research revolution and how iConquer MS keeps people affected by MS at the center of MS research. The National Institutes of Health has just published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research. We're sharing all the details. And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results. And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're talking about people-powered MS research :22 The NIH has published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research 1:15 Researchers determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) are cost-effective 6:05 Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt discuss what it means to put people affected by MS at the center of MS research 12:41 Share this episode 36:26 Next week 36:45 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 at iConquer MS National Institutes of Health Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research STUDY: Economic Value of Anti-CD20 Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studies AbleNOW JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 449 Guests: Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/40731825

Episode 448: At the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with David, Cliff, and Michelle 03/30/2026

Episode 448: At the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with David, Cliff, and Michelle Last week, about 170 MS activists from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. It's hard to come away from this event and not feel outraged by the stories that are shared, but also inspired by the resilience and bravery of the MS Activists who are willing to share some of the worst moments in their MS journey to make sure that our elected representatives in the House and Senate understand why the legislation we ask them to support is so vitally important. I met so many truly amazing MS activists at this year's Public Policy Conference, and you'll meet some of them in this week's episode. We're also sharing survey results that paint a disturbing picture of the human consequences that resulted from losing Congressional funding to support enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace Enrollees The National MS Society has invested $2.3 million in 11 research projects focused on women's health issues and MS. We're sharing details of each new research initiative being funded. You'll learn about a clinical trial for a novel investigational therapy for MS and other autoimmune diseases. And we'll tell you about a study that you can participate in from home...and get compensated for your participation! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're at the Public Policy Conference :22 Survey results show the human consequences of losing Congressional funding to support enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace Enrollees 4:45 The National MS Society invests $2.3 million dollars in research projects focused on women's health issues and MS 7:23 The first healthy participant is dosed in the clinical trial for ICP-538 11:24 An opportunity to participate from home in a clinical trial (and there's compensation!) 12:41 MS Activists David, Cliff, and Michelle share their thoughts on attending the MS Society's Public Policy Conference 15:27 Share this episode 30:10 Next week 30:30 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 Support Jon at WALK MS JOIN: Become an MS Activist LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 446 -- MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern SURVEY RESULTS: Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees PARTICIPATE: A Study to Determine How Well Different Fall Prevention Programs Work for People with Spinal Court Injury and Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, , and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, . RealTalk MS Episode 448 Guests: David Silbaugh, Cliff Currie, and Michelle Constantine Hibbs /episode/index/show/realtalkms/id/40652425

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