Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast RealTalk MS
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman | 28 Sep 2026 | 00:25:42 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/474 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 474 | |||
| Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:38:58 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/473 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 473 | |||
| Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:34:25 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/472 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 472 | |||
| Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:40:07 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/471 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 471 | |||
| Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins | 31 Aug 2026 | 00:30:10 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/470 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Feasibility and Outcomes of Gait Training With a Powered Exoskeleton in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis SUPPORT: Marathons For Mum PARTICIPATE: MOMENT-MS Study REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 470 | |||
| Episode 469: Maintaining and Even Improving Cognitive Function If You're Living with MS with Dr. Anna Kratz | 24 Aug 2026 | 00:43:35 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/469 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 469 | |||
| Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva | 17 Aug 2026 | 00:38:01 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/468 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 468 | |||
| Episode 467: Making Shared Decision-Making Work with Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman | 10 Aug 2026 | 00:33:33 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/467 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 467 | |||
| Episode 466: Everything You Ought to Know About Diet and MS with Dr. Tyler Titcomb | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:27:05 | |
We get more listener emails about diet and MS than almost any other topic. If you're curious about how some of the well-known diets for MS actually stack up, or you're interested in understanding the connection between diet and MS-related fatigue, or you want to know what the biggest obstacle to staying on a new diet is (and this may surprise you), then this is the episode for you. We're devoting this week's entire episode to my conversation with Dr. Tyler Titcomb, an assistant professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, and a registered dietitian with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into diet and MS :22 Dr. Tyler Titcomb breaks down what you need to know about how diet influences multiple sclerosis and why it plays such a key role. :54 Share this episode 25:22 Next week 25:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/466 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 466 | |||
| Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:37:16 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/465 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 465 | |||
| Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:32:20 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/464 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 464 | |||
| Episode 463: A Novel Approach to Treating MS-Related Depression with Dr. Robert Motl and Kelly | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:37:06 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/463 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis PARTICIPATE: Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis (METS for MS) JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 463 | |||
| Episode 462: Taking Your MS to College? Understand Your Right to Accommodation with Britt Neff | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:30:16 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/462 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 462 | |||
| Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:34:04 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/461 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 461 | |||
| Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:33:43 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/460 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 460 | |||
| Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice | 15 Jun 2026 | 00:47:55 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/459 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 459 | |||
| Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:31:50 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/458 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 458 | |||
| Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:29:35 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/457 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 457 | |||
| Episode 456:The First 100 Days Following Your MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte | 25 May 2026 | 00:30:09 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/456 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 456 | |||
| Episode 455: MS and Your Oral Health with Dr. Ann Spolarich | 18 May 2026 | 00:31:05 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/455 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: The Impact of Sex on the Immune System Explored at the Single-Cell Level 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 455 | |||
| Episode 454: Managing MS-Related Depression with Dr. Anthony Feinstein | 11 May 2026 | 00:30:03 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/454 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 454 | |||
| Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove | 04 May 2026 | 00:37:18 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/453 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 453 | |||
| Episode 452: Why Natural Myelin Repair Stops Working for People with MS (And How It Could Be Re-Started!) with Dr. Larry Sherman | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:29:42 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/452 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 452 | |||
| Episode 451: Meet the 2026 Winner of the John Dystel Prize for MS Research with Dr. Ludwig Kappos | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:32:34 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/451 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 451 | |||
| Episode 450: Exercise is Medicine for People with MS with Dr. Robert Motl | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:33:21 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/450 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 450 | |||
| Episode 449: Putting People Affected by MS at the Center of MS Research with Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:37:57 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/449 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 449 | |||
| Episode 448: At the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with David, Cliff, and Michelle | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:31:48 | |
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: https://realtalkms.com/448 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com 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, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 448 | |||
| Episode 447: Walking with Many Sisters Toward a Cure with Brigitte Delaney | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:23:47 | |
In 1988, there were just 42 Walk MS events, raising approximately $4 million. In 2025, there were 170 events across the country that raised over $30 million. As the largest private funder of MS research in the world, the National MS Society relies on funds raised at events like Walk MS to continue supporting the work that brings us closer to cures. This week, Brigitte Delaney, an amazing fundraiser and captain of the Many Sisters Walk MS team, shares her story, talks about the origin of the Many Sisters team, and offers her recipe for successful fundraising. We're also sharing study results that show adhering to the MIND diet slows brain aging (and we'll explain why that matters to someone living with MS) We'll tell you about NG01, a remyelinating cell therapy that just received an FDA designation that will accelerate its development. You'll learn about CoPilot Health, Microsoft's new AI health chatbot. And we're sharing study results that indicate people who receive their MS diagnosis over the age of 50 tend to experience a more severe MS disease course. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: It's WALK MS! :22 Study results show that adherence to the MIND diet slows brain aging 1:24 The FDA grants a designation that accelerates development of a remyelinating cell therapy 4:42 Microsoft launches CoPilot Health, an AI health chatbot 7:17 Study results indicate that people who are diagnosed over the age of 50 often experience a more severe MS disease course 9:32 Brigitte Delaney introduces us to the Many Sisters WALK MS team 12:07 Share this episode 22:28 Next week 22:48 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/447 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS JOIN: Become an MS Activist STUDY: Adherence to the MIND Diet and Longitudinal Brain Structural Changes Over a Decade: Evidence from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort STUDY: Effect of Late-Onset on Multiple Sclerosis Phenotype and Outcome: Evidence from a Multi-National Registry JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 447 | |||
| Episode 446: MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:34:23 | |
175 MS activists are heading to Washington, D.C. next week for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. Their mission: to bring the concerns of the MS community directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. When it comes to the legislative support for healthcare and medical research, it's no secret that these are unusual times. Joining me to brief us on the National MS Society's ongoing advocacy efforts and give us a sneak peek at the specific legislative issues we'll be taking to Capitol Hill is the National MS Society's Vice President of Advocacy, Steffany Stern. We'll also share updated results from an important study that show the risk of developing MS if a close relative is living with the disease is significantly higher than researchers originally thought. And we'll give you all the details of a Phase 1 clinical trial that's focused on a novel approach to CAR-T cell therapy for MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Preparing for the MS Society's Public Policy Conference :22 I'm asking for your support: 1:37 An update to a 2015 study shows close relatives of people living with MS are 100 times more likely than the general population to develop MS 2:15 A novel approach to CAR-T cell therapy for MS is recruiting for a Phase 1 clinical trial 4:26 Steffany Stern, the Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, shares a major advocacy win and previews next week's Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. 7:27 Share this episode 33:04 Next week 33:25 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/446 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS JOIN: Become an MS Activist STUDY: A Prospective Study of Individuals at Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Informs the Design of Primary Prevention Studies GEMS Study Recruitment RealTalk MS Ep. 439: Preventing MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo PARTICIPATE: A Study to Assess the Safety and Clinical of Azer-cel in Participants with B-cell Mediated Autoimmune Disorders JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 446 | |||
| Episode 445: It's MS Awareness Week with Kristine Werner Ozug and Kim, Kim, and Kim | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:40:52 | |
It's MS Awareness Week, and this year we're diving into a theme that hits home for millions: Unseen MS. Multiple sclerosis is a master of disguise; it can be entirely invisible to the naked eye while remaining profoundly life-altering for the person living it. In this episode, we're exploring the spectrum of the MS experience through two distinct, yet deeply connected stories. First, you'll hear from RealTalk MS team member Kristine Werner Ozug. Kristine shares what it's like to navigate a world that doesn't always see her struggle, and how her "mostly invisible" MS symptoms still dictate the rhythm of her daily life. Then, you'll meet the two Kims (and a third). Kim W and Kim P, have been together for 16 years. They both live with MS—but in very different ways. While Kim P has navigated RRMS for 18 years with largely invisible symptoms, Kim W was diagnosed with PPMS just three years ago and faces much more visible physical challenges. Joining our conversation with Kim and Kim is Kim Fredsall, a physical therapist at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, who provides expert context on bridging the gap between diagnosis and daily management. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: It's MS Awareness Week :22 Kristine Werner Ozug shares her story 1:24 Kim W. and Kim P. share their story 24:49 Share this episode 39:14 Next week 39:34 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/445 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 445 | |||
| Episode 444: Treating MS with a GLP-1 with Dr. Ellen Mowry | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:31:33 | |
You know them by their trade names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. This class of medications is known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. And while they are best known for managing diabetes and promoting weight loss, researchers are finding that these drugs are also effective in a broad range of other health conditions. So, what about MS? My guest this week is Dr. Ellen Mowry, the principal investigator of a clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce brain inflammation and provide neuroprotection in people living with progressive MS. We're sharing details about the discovery of a new biomarker that not only confirms an MS diagnosis but also predicts the severity of an individual's disease course in the years ahead. We'll tell you about three studies focused on better managing some of the most common MS symptoms and funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance. And we'll explain how Merck and the Mayo Clinic are partnering to build a first-of-its-kind drug discovery platform using AI. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A GLP-1 for MS? :22 I'm asking for your support: 1:31 Researchers discover biomarkers that can predict future disease course 2:13 The International Progressive MS Alliance invests $8.1 million in global studies that address the most common MS symptoms 5:44 Merck and the Mayo Clinic collaborate on AI-driven drug discovery platform 10:02 Dr. Ellen Mowry discusses the clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1 drug can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and offer neuroprotection to people with progressive MS 12:20 Share this episode 30:17 Next week 30:38 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/444 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS STUDY: Large-Scale Proteomics Across Neurological Disorders Uncovers Biomarker Panel and Targets in Multiple Sclerosis International Progressive MS Alliance JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 444 | |||
| Episode 443: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 3) with Dr. Helen Tremlett, Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, and Kathy Smith | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:35:59 | |
Welcome back to the third and final part of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week's episode bridges the gap between groundbreaking clinical research and the nuanced reality of living with MS every day. First, we'll dive into the "before" and "after" of a diagnosis, starting with Dr. Helen Tremlett's insights into the MS prodrome—those subtle, early signs that appear years before typical MS symptoms. We'll also talk with Dr. Tremlett about how other health conditions can predict long-term outcomes in sometimes surprising ways.
Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the connection between diet, MRI findings, and clinical disability. Dr. Katz Sand also shares her list of foods you want to include and those you need to exclude when you choose the MIND diet. And Dr. Katz Sand explains the complementary roles of lifestyle choices and disease-modifying therapies in creating the most effective MS treatment plan. Finally, we ground these scientific advancements in the lived experience as Kathy Smith joins us to challenge the clinical labels we use to describe MS, questioning whether terms like "relapsing-remitting" or "secondary-progressive" truly capture the day-to-day reality of her two-decade journey with the disease. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 3) :22 Dr. Helen Tremlett discusses the prodromal phase of MS, which comorbidities are predictive of better or worse patient outcomes, and the role of the environment in pediatric MS 1:19 Dr. Ilana Katz Sand shares her latest research on the impact of diet on MS 10:44 As someone who has lived with MS for two decades, Kathy Smith takes on the question of whether the current labels like 'relapsing-remitting' or 'secondary-progressive' actually describe what life is like on a day-to-day basis for someone living with MS 22:35 Share this episode 34:29 Next week's episode 34:49 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/443 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS Find out about ABLEnow Accounts JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 443 | |||
| Episode 442: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 2) with Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kristine Werner Ozug | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:44:41 | |
Welcome back to Part Two of our coverage of the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum. This week, we shift our focus to emerging therapies and clinical insights that are re-shaping the future of MS care. From the latest information on stem cell transplantation to evolving treatment strategies to the labels used to describe MS, we're breaking down the complex science into the conversations that matter most to the MS community.
Joining me to discuss one of the most significant presentations from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum is Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, who opened the event with the Kenneth P. Johnson Memorial Lecture. Dr. Cohen's lecture, "AHSCT: Current Status and Remaining Questions," tackled a topic of massive interest to both clinicians and the MS community: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT). Often described as "resetting" the immune system, AHSCT is a complex and life-changing procedure that continues to evolve. In our conversation, Dr. Cohen delves deeper into his lecture, discussing transplant efficacy, the best candidates for AHSCT, the optimal time to consider AHSCT, and how people living with MS may qualify to participate in a clinical trial comparing the benefits of AHSCT with those of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies. Joining me for a deep dive into the future of MS care is Dr. Daniel Ontaneda. Our wide-ranging conversation explores the cutting edge of clinical practice and research, including the "early vs aggressive" treatment debate, how incorporating new imaging biomarkers will lead to faster, more reliable, and more accurate MS diagnoses, and whether the current disease classifications still serve the best interests of patient care. While MS research conferences like the ACTRIMS Forum are never short on world-class expert opinions and groundbreaking data, one perspective is often missing from the room: the voice of someone living with the disease. That's why I was so glad to have Kristine Werner Ozug, a valued member of the RealTalk MS team, on the ground with me. As someone living with MS, Kristine brings a vital lens to these scientific sessions. After the final gavel fell, I sat down with her to get her "patient-first" perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from this year's Forum. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 2) :22 Dr. Jeffrey Cohen takes us on a deep-dive into Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) 1:23 Dr. Daniel Ontaneda discusses the ways that today's MS research will impact tomorrow's MS care 10:44 Kristine Werner Ozug shares her "patient-first" perspective on the research that mattered most to her and what she's taking away from the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum 28:17 Share this episode 43:31 Next week's episode 43:54 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/442 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS Find out about ABLEnow Accounts JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 442 | |||
| Episode 441: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Manuel Friese, Dr. Amit Bar-Or, and Dr. Haritha Desu | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:33:29 | |
Last week, over 1,400 scientists and clinicians gathered in San Diego, California, at the 2026 Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. This week, in Part One of our coverage, you'll hear from three of the experts who presented their research at the ACTRIMS Forum.
Dr. Manuel Friese, a clinician-scientist at the Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Molecular Neurobiology, and the Director of the Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, is this year's winner of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis. I had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Friese about some of his truly remarkable research. Dr. Amit Bar-Or, the Director of the Centre for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET) and Chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and related disorders at the University of Pennsylvania, presented encouraging results from two important clinical trials. Dr. Bar-Or and I discussed what those results might mean for people living with relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS. Dr. Haritha Desu, a young investigator at the ACTRIMS Forum, presented her cutting-edge research on how immune cells interact with cells already resident in the brain to drive damage or potentially promote repair. I talked with Dr. Desu about how her work could be key to stopping MS progression independent of relapse activity. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum :22 Barancik Prize winner Dr. Manuel Friese discusses his pioneering discoveries 1:34 Dr. Amit Bar-Or shares encouraging results from two important clinical trials 16:27 Dr. Haritha Desu discusses her research 25:27 Share this episode 32:23 Next week's episode 32:42 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/441 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS Find out about ABLEnow Accounts JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 441 | |||
| Episode 440: An MS Specialist's Response to the FDA with Dr. William Conte | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:39:19 | |
This past December, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter to drug manufacturer Sanofi in response to Sanofi's application seeking approval for Tolebrutinib, the first in a new category of investigational disease-modifying therapies to undergo FDA review. A Complete Response Letter is an official letter from the FDA to a drug manufacturer stating that the agency can't approve a new medicine in its current form. It's not an outright "no" that kills a project; it's more like a "not yet." However, this Complete Response Letter raised some issues which, at first glance, don't appear to be easily fixable. Sanofi has pointed out that the issues raised in the Complete Response Letter were markedly different from the guidance they received from the FDA over the course of this approval process. Sanofi has also indicated that it would work with the FDA to find a path forward for Tolebrutinib. Dr. William Conte, an MS Specialist and a principal investigator in the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib, has published an article responding to the FDA's Complete Response Letter. This week, Dr. Conte joins me to discuss the FDA's action and his response to that action. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're at the 2026 ACTRIMS Forum :22 Check out the official ACTRIMS Forum Insider podcast! :42 The FDA's Complete Response Letter about Tolebrutinib 1:09 Dr. William Conte responds to the FDA's Complete Response Letter 4:09 Share this episode 38:10 Next week's episode 38:30 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/440 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS Find out about ABLEnow Accounts JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 440 | |||
| Episode 439: Preventing MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo | 26 Jan 2026 | 00:32:30 | |
The first coordinated global research strategy to prevent MS has been announced. This week, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the National MS Society's Executive Vice President and Chief Research & Medical Affairs Officer, joins me to explain what MS prevention looks like and how experts plan to achieve this remarkable goal. We'll also tell you who won the 2025 Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research, and we'll explain how their groundbreaking research impacts MS care. We're sharing the details of a newly announced partnership designed to reduce delays in getting an MS diagnosis and expand access to MS care in Wisconsin. We'll tell you how an international drug discovery network found that a drug already approved for another condition could also protect nerve cells and promote remyelination. And we'll share research that shows that AI can accurately predict whether someone newly diagnosed with MS will experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) in the three years following their diagnosis. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! I'm asking for your support: :22 This Week: Preventing MS 1:47 Dr. Manuel Friese is the winner of the 2025 Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research 2:41 National MS Society announces a partnership to improve time to MS diagnosis and access to MS care in Wisconsin 6:26 An international drug discovery network identifies a drug that protects nerve cells and promotes remyelination 8:05 STUDY: AI accurately predicts progression independent of relapse activity in individuals who are newly diagnosed with MS 10:51 Dr. Bruce Bebo explains the strategy behind the global research initiative to prevent MS 14:48 Share this episode 31:31 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/439 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Support Jon at WALK MS RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy for MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik STUDY: In Silico Screening and Preclinical Validation Identify Bavisant as a Therapeutic Candidate for Multiple Sclerosis STUDY: Machine Learning Analysis Applied to Prediction of Early Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Find out about ABLEnow Accounts JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 439 | |||
| Episode 438: The Discovery of 2 MS Subtypes with Dr. Arman Eshaghi | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:29:13 | |
One of the more confusing aspects of MS is that it can present differently from one person to the next. A research team at University College London may have uncovered a reason for that when they identified two new, and quite different, subtypes of MS. Joining me to walk us through this discovery and to explain how it may impact MS clinical care is the study's principal investigator, Dr. Arman Eshaghi. We're also sharing study results that may explain how the Epstein-Barr Virus triggers MS in some individuals. We'll tell you about the free online fitness and wellness programs for veterans living with MS offered by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. And we'll explain how the latest entrant in the AI for healthcare revolution can prepare you for your next appointment with your neurologist. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Discovering 2 new subtypes of MS :22 Study results show how the Epstein-Barr Virus may trigger MS 1:20 The PVA is offering free online fitness and wellness classes for veterans with MS 5:45 Claude for Healthcare joins the AI in healthcare revolution 7:03 Dr. Arman Eshaghi discusses his team's discovery of 2 subtypes of MS 9:59 Share this episode 28:15 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/438 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com EBV Infection and HLA-DR15 Jointly Drive Multiple Sclerosis by Myelin Peptide Presentation STUDY: Combined Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Serum Analysis Reveals Distinct Multiple Sclerosis Types PVA Offers Free Online Fitness & Wellness Classes for Vets with MS Find out about ABLEnow Accounts Claude for Healthcare JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 438 | |||
| Episode 437: Remembering David Mitchell | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:29:19 | |
I don't have to remind anyone who listens to this podcast that the cost of MS disease-modifying therapies is obscenely high. And we're not just talking about relatively new medications. Older medications -- some decades old -- continue to increase in price without any rational explanation for why or how. On January 2nd, we lost a true warrior in the ongoing battle to lower the price of prescription drugs when David Mitchell, the founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, passed away. I met David in 2018 at a National MS Society Public Policy Conference, and he was a guest on Episode 31 of RealTalk MS. This week, I'm re-sharing the conversation we had in 2018. We'll also tell you about an international workshop that represents the initial steps in developing a global research agenda to end MS. We're explaining how AI is about to have a major impact on healthcare. And we'll share the American Medical Association's brief to Congress, making the case for extending access to telehealth. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're remembering David Mitchell :22 The first steps toward a global research agenda to prevent MS were just published 1:02 Doctor AI will see you now 5:45 The American Medical Association asks lawmakers to extend access to telehealth 10:27 David Mitchell in his own words 12:41 Share this episode 27:56 Next week 28:16 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/437 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Patients for Affordable Drugs PAPER: Toward a Global Research Agenda for Preventing Multiple Sclerosis AMA BRIEF: The Case for Permanent Telehealth Policy and Expanded Access to Virtual Care ChatGPT Health JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 437 | |||
| Episode 436: 3 Questions Your Neurologist Should Be Asking Themselves with Dr. Leorah Freeman | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:34:14 | |
Scientists are expanding our understanding of MS at an unprecedented pace. This week, Dr. Leorah Freeman discusses why, as new discoveries and medications enter clinical practice, neurologists and MS specialists should ask themselves 3 important questions when considering a patient's treatment plan. Dr. Freeman is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, where she also leads the MS and Neuroimmunology fellowship program and the MS Imaging and Outcomes Research Laboratory. We'll also tell you about study results that reveal two distinct biologically-informed MS subtypes. We're explaining some of the confusing background to the FDA's decision not to approve a disease-modifying therapy that achieved positive results in its Phase 3 clinical trial. And did we really need a study to tell us that people living with MS fear experiencing a relapse or disease progression? Well, yes. We'll explain why. We're also reminding you to mail your insurance premium payments and other important documents earlier than you have in the past. And we're sharing details about the two clinical trials that received $4.1 million in funding as part of the International Progressive MS Alliance Experimental Medicine Trial Awards. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: 3 questions your neurologist should be asking themselves :22 Public Service Announcement: How the new rule about postmarks could affect your healthcare 1:16 FDA says it's not ready to approve Tolebrutinib 3:16 Study identifies two biologically-informed MS subtypes 6:29 Study results remind us that people with MS fear relapse and progression 10:09 The International Progressive MS Alliance invests $4.1 million in two clinical trials 14:04 Dr. Leorah Freeman discusses why neurologists need to ask themselves 3 important questions when considering a patient's treatment plan 17:18 Share this episode 33:16 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/436 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com The Multiple Sclerosis Insider STUDY: Combined Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Serum Analysis Reveals Distinct Multiple Sclerosis Types STUDY: Fear of Disease Progression and Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Scoping Review JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 436 | |||
| Episode 435: Revisiting ECTRIMS 2025 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:24:01 | |
We're closing out the year by revisiting the most listened-to episode of RealTalk MS in 2025. And it shouldn't come as a major surprise that this year's most listened-to episode was our review of the largest MS research conference in the world, ECTRIMS. This episode features the annual conversation that I have with Dr. Bruce Bebo, right outside of the conference center, just minutes after ECTRIMS adjourns. Dr. Bebo is the Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, and each year, he very generously closes out 3 days of nonstop meetings, presentations, and research reviews by sharing his initial thoughts on the announcements and presentations that caught his eye during the conference. When I produced this episode last September, I also wanted to capture a patient's perspective on what can easily become an overwhelming 3 days of presentations, news, and announcements. Kristine Werner Ozug, a member of the RealTalk MS team who lives with MS, joined me right after the conference to share her perspective on ECTRIMS 2025. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: ECTRIMS 2025 :22 Dr. Bruce Bebo shares his first impressions of the news and research presented at ECTRIMS 2025 1:22 Kristine Werner Ozug weighs in with an MS patient's perspective on the news and research presented at ECTRIMS 2025 10:35 Share this episode 22:45 Next week on RealTalk MS 23:06 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/435 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com RealTalk MS at ECTRIMS 2025 on YouTube Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 435 | |||
| Episode 434: Revisiting Managing Menopause While You're Managing MS with Dr. Riley Bove | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:21:38 | |
The holiday season gives me the opportunity to indulge in what's become a RealTalk MS tradition. I reserve the last two episodes in December to revisit the most popular conversations that I've had over the past year. Women represent two-thirds of the MS population. Yet, surprisingly, there isn't nearly enough data related to women's health issues and MS. With an estimated 300,000 women living with MS in the United States who are currently in peri- or post-menopause, researchers have started to focus on how menopause and MS interact, and the best ways to treat symptoms of each. This brings me to a conversation I had last March about managing menopause while managing MS with Dr. Riley Bove. Dr. Bove is a neurologist and the founding director of the Sex and Gender-Enriched (SAGE) Neurology Program at the University of California, San Francisco, and she's considered one of the world's foremost experts on women's health issues and MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Managing menopause while you're managing MS :22 Dr. Riley Bove discusses some of the issues facing the estimated 30% of the MS population who are currently in peri- or post-menopause 1:53 Share this episode 20:30 Next week on RealTalk MS 20:51 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/434 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com RealTalk MS at ECTRIMS 2025 on YouTube Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 434 | |||
| Episode 433: Our Most Important Conversations of 2025 with Dr. John Corboy, Dr. Mikael Simons, Dr. John DeLuca, and Dr. Stehen Krieger | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:43:16 | |
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to share some of the most compelling conversations we've had over the past 12 months. And rather than make my own picks, we went through the hundreds of emails we've received over the past year from the RealTalk MS listener community to see which topics really connected with you. In this week's episode, you'll hear from four of the top MS experts in the world discussing the subjects you've told me are most important to you. First, we'll explore aging and MS with Dr. John Corboy, the principal investigator of the largest study designed to answer the question, "Once I turn 60, can I discontinue my disease-modifying therapies?" We'll talk about remyelination with the winner of the 2025 Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research, Dr. Mikael Simons. You'll hear our conversation with one of the world's top MS rehabilitation experts, Dr. John DeLuca, as we tackle one of the most disruptive MS symptoms -- fatigue. And we'll wrap up this episode by talking with clinician-scientist Dr. Stephen Krieger about the confusion around trying to reconcile the idea of progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Our most important conversations of 2025 :22 Dr. John Corboy discusses aging and MS 1:07 Dr. Mikael Simons discusses remyelination 10:54 Dr. John DeLuca discusses MS-related fatigue 19:20 Dr. Stephen Krieger discusses how the current course descriptors for MS (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive) may no longer be working for doctors or patients 26:11 Share this episode 42:10 Next week's episode 42:30 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/433 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 433 | |||
| Special Episode: Guiding the Future of MS Care: MS21 Consensus Recommendations for Improving MS Care to Relieve the Burden of Disease | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:14:59 | |
This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and is only intended for a U.S. audience. EMD Serono is the healthcare business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada. Please note this episode is only intended for a U.S. audience. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Professor Elisabeth Celius and Amanda Montague join me to explore new consensus recommendations for the future of MS care from MS in the 21st Century. We'll hear what experts and people in the MS community think are the priorities to focus on to improve care and help lessen the burden of living with MS. Professor Elisabeth Celius is a consultant neurologist with a special focus on MS at Oslo University Hospital in Norway, where she is the group leader of the MS Research Group and also conducts epidemiological, genetic, and clinical research. Amanda Montague is a global thought leader and Interim President & CEO of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Both Amanda and Elisabeth are active members of the MS in the 21st Century initiative, more commonly known as MS21. MS21 is a Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, initiative involving healthcare professionals, people with MS, and patient advocacy groups. To learn more about MS in the 21st Century, please visit www.msinthe21stcentury.com. | |||
| Episode 432: Working With a Health & Wellness Coach with Amy Behimer | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:40:38 | |
Michael Jordan never won an NBA championship until he was paired with the right coach. Then, he won six. Could working with a coach change your MS journey? In this week's episode, health & wellness coach Amy Behimer explains what health coaching is all about and how working with a coach might impact someone living with MS. We're also sharing study results that show DMTs fail to manage MS-related pain. Then, we'll explain how a common misconception can lead to the wrong outcome for someone with MS. And we'll share study results showing that adhering to the Mediterranean or MIND diet improves cognitive performance among people living with MS. We'll also explain why this study raises as many questions as it seeks to answer. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Thank you! :22 This Week: What working with a health coach is all about 1:08 Study results show that disease-modifying therapies don't help manage MS-related pain (But are they supposed to???) 2:29 Study results show that adhering to the Mediterranean or MIND diet improves cognitive performance among people with MS (Or does it??) 5:13 Health & Wellness Coach Amy Behimer explains how someone living with MS could benefit from coaching 12:11 Share this episode 39:33 Next week's episode 39:53 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/432 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com DONATE: The National MS Society SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist STUDY: Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Moderna's EBV Vaccine and MS STUDY: Mediterranean and MIND Diet Patterns and Cognitive Performance in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UK Multiple Sclerosis Register JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 432 | |||
| Special Episode: I'm the First Participant in a CAR-T Cell Therapy Clinical Trial with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:20:41 | |
Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. In this final episode of this series, you'll meet Jan Janisch-Hanzlik. Jan lives with MS and is a participant in one of the clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for MS. In CAR-T cell therapy, blood is taken from the patient or a healthy donor, much as you would donate blood. This blood is sent to a lab, where the white blood cells, or T-cells, are separated out and reprogrammed to carry a receptor designed to fight a particular condition. This receptor is known as a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR. Over several weeks in the lab, these fortified T-cells multiply until there are millions of them, then they're reintroduced to the patient by intravenous infusion. CAR-T cell therapy is already used to treat some blood cancers, and Jan is the first person in the world to receive this one-and-done treatment to treat MS. She's joining us to share her experience participating in the clinical trial and to give us an update on how she's doing following her treatment. This special episode of RealTalk MS is made possible by a generous grant from Sanofi. Sanofi has two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in MS studying Frexalimab, an investigational second-generation anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody. If you are interested in learning more about these clinical trials, please visit SanofiStudies.com SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/ct4 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! | |||
| Episode 431: When a Teenager Becomes a Caregiver For a Parent With MS with Michaela Janssen Pohl | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:34:58 | |
At the age of 14, Michaela Janssen Pohl became a caregiver for her mother, who lives with MS. I think most of us can agree that just being a teenager carries with it more than enough challenges. Those adolescent years are the years when just about everything in life starts changing. Imagine adding the responsibilities of being a caregiver to all the other things going on in a 14-year-old girl's life. Michaela joins me this week to explain how she found ways to survive and thrive in what can only be described as a challenging situation for any teenager. We'll also explain why you might want to think a little differently about Giving Tuesday this year. We're sharing all the details about the Phase 2 clinical trial focusing on Moderna's investigational Epstein-Barr vaccine and MS (and we'll explain why that might turn out to be important!) We're talking about how MS impacts women's health issues with this year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Kristen Krysko. And we're sharing the results of the Phase 2 clinical trial for PIPE-307, an investigational remyelination therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! It's Giving Tuesday (and why that matters more this year than ever before) :22 This Week: Becoming a caregiver for a parent with MS when you're 14 years old 3:27 A clinical trial focused on an EBV vaccine and MS is recruiting participants 4:25 Dr. Kristen Krysko discusses MS and women's health issues 7:52 Results from the Phase 2 clinical trial for PIPE-307 remyelination therapy 13:48 Michaela Janssen Pohl shares her story of becoming a caregiver at the age of 14 16:55 Share this episode 33:20 Next week's episode 33:40 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/431 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com DONATE: The National MS Society SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist PARTICIPATE: Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Moderna's EBV Vaccine and MS JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 431 | |||
| Episode 430: Navigating Winter Weather When You're Living with MS with Dr. James Stark | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:36:35 | |
Almost everyone with MS is aware of their sensitivity to heat. But cold weather presents a whole different set of challenges that we don't always think about. This week, I'm talking with Dr. James Stark about safely navigating cold-weather conditions when you're living with MS. Dr. Stark is the Senior Attending Neurologist and Associate Medical Director at the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice. And he's sharing tips for staying safe and healthy when the temperature starts to drop. The FDA has just approved a new generic DMT, and the first biosimilar for MS is hitting the market. We'll tell you about these new disease-modifying therapy options, and we'll bring you up to speed on what biosimilars are all about. I ran into Dr. Robert Fox at ECTRIMS, the world's largest MS research conference. And, in a brief conversation, Dr. Fox provided a great overview of the MS research landscape. You won't want to miss this conversation! If you missed the International Progressive MS Alliance's global webcast, Hidden Potential: How Existing Drugs Could Transform MS Treatment, you can still catch the video replay. We're sharing all the details. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: There's a lot to still be thankful for :22 Your opportunity to support the organization that supports you 2:03 What you need to know about the new generic and biosimilar disease-modifying therapies 9:24 The Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Robert Fox shares an overview of the MS research landscape 10:29 Catch the International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast video replay 22:41 Dr. James Stark shares tips for navigating winter weather when you're living with MS 23:27 Share this episode 35:14 Next week's episode 35:35 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/430 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com DONATE to the National MS Society SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist WATCH: International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast Replay LISTEN: RealTalk MS EP. 315: Understanding Generic and Biosimilar Drugs for MS with Dr. Jiwon Oh VISIT: Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 430 | |||
| Special Episode: Participating in MS Research with Chiquita Shepard-Knight and Earl Sneed | 20 Nov 2025 | 00:16:27 | |
Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. In today's episode, you'll meet two participants from the TEAMS Study, a research study at the University of Illinois Chicago's UI Health, in conjunction with the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health. TEAAMS is an acronym for Targeted Exercise for African-Americans with Multiple Sclerosis. And the study's research team analyzed the effects of a remotely delivered, racially tailored exercise training program among African Americans with MS living in low-income areas of the Southeastern United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. This is a part of the country that doesn't have many primary care or MS clinics that provide full exercise and rehabilitation services for patients with MS. The TEAMMS study consists of two 16-week exercise programs, completed 3 days per week at home. One exercise program combines aerobic and resistance training, while the other focuses on stretching and flexibility. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of the two programs, and all of the materials to complete each program, like yoga mats, resistance bands, and training manuals, were provided. And every study participant receives a $90 gift card in compensation for completing the program. The study's research team hypothesizes that completing the TEAAMS program would improve walking, reduce symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance quality of life. This special episode of RealTalk MS is made possible by a generous grant from Sanofi. Sanofi has two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in MS studying Frexalimab, an investigational second-generation anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody. If you are interested in learning more about these clinical trials, please visit SanofiStudies.com SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/ct3 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! | |||
| Episode 429: Caring for Your Partner with MS While Holding Down a Full-Time Job with Diana Grazio | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:30:35 | |
Being a caregiver for a loved one with MS isn't an easy job. And, while it may consume hours of your time, often, it's not your only job. Many caregivers are the only family members bringing in an income. So, in addition to their caregiving responsibilities, they may also be facing the responsibilities that go along with holding down a full-time job. This week, Diana Grazio joins me to discuss how she balances her roles and responsibilities as her partner's caregiver while holding down a full-time job. You have online opportunities tomorrow! Participate in the National MS Society's Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit, or catch the International Progressive MS Alliance's global webcast, How Existing Drugs Could Transform MS Treatment. We have all the info for you to register for either or both! If you purchase your health insurance through the ACA Healthcare Marketplace, you've probably already been notified that your premiums will skyrocket in 2026. MS Activist, Sarah Quezada, shares how those premium increases will affect her family. Roche has announced the outcomes of Phase 3 clinical trials for Fenebrutinib and Relapsing MS, and Primary Progressive MS. It's positive news, and we have the details! Could nanoparticles penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the central nervous system? University of Illinois researchers say yes! We're sharing the details. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: It's National Family Caregiver Month :22 The MS Care Partner Connection :34 The National MS Society is hosting the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit TOMORROW! 2:20 The International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast is TOMORROW! 2:51 Sarah Quezada shares how astronomical increases in ACA health insurance premiums will affect her family 3:46 Roche announces outcomes for Phase 3 clinical trials for Fenebrutinib and Relapsing MS, and Primary Progressive MS 11:59 Could nanoparticles penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the central nervous system? 13:43 Diana Grazio discusses how she manages her role as a caregiver while holding down a full-time job 16:07 Share this episode 29:10 Next week's episode 29:30 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/429 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Online Survey SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist REGISTER: The Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit REGISTER: International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast VISIT: The MS Care Partner Connection STUDY: Nanoparticle-Boosted Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Therapy for Immune Reprogramming in Multiple Sclerosis JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 429 | |||
| Episode 428: The Effects of Smoking, Consuming Alcohol, and Consuming Caffeine on Your MS with Dr. Barbara Giesser | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:32:47 | |
As researchers continue to learn about MS, it becomes clear that you can change the trajectory of your MS journey and improve your quality of life by making smart lifestyle choices. Quitting smoking and watching your alcohol and caffeine consumption are smart choices for everyone, and they can pay especially big dividends if you're living with MS. This week, Dr. Barbara Giesser discusses how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine can impact your MS. We're also sharing the details about the Black MS Experience Summit taking place on November 12th, and the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit taking place on November 19th. We'll tell you about a study that revealed what may be a novel way of stimulating remyelination. You'll meet Dr. Arman Eshaghi and hear about how artificial intelligence may impact your future MRI exam. We'll share study results that show that carbohydrate consumption may increase the risk of an individual developing MS. And we'll tell you about a study that looked at the connection between starting a disease-modifying therapy early and quality of life related to cognitive function and fatigue. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: What you need to know about how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine impact your MS :22 The Black MS Experience Summit is TOMORROW! 1:32 The National MS Society is hosting the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit on Nov 19th 2:33 Study results indicate the path to myelin repair may require subtraction, not addition 3:04 Dr. Arman Eshaghi discusses how AI may change how MRI scans are interpreted 5:12 Study results show a connection between carbohydrate intake and MS risk 15:10 Study results show how starting a DMT early impacts quality of life related to cognitive function and fatigue among people with MS 17:55 Dr. Barbara Giesser discusses how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine impact people living with MS 21:38 Share this episode 31:07 Next week's episode 31:27 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/428 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: jon@realtalkms.com And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Online Survey SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist WATCH: The RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on YouTube STUDY: Gt2fi-Encoded Transcription Factor Tfii-i Regulates Myelin Via Sox10 and Mbp Regulatory Elements STUDY: Association Between Dietary Carbohydrate Intake and Multiple Sclerosis Risk: A Large-Scale Cohort Study STUDY: Self-Reported Quality of Life Related to Cognitive Function and Fatigue in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis REGISTER: The Black MS Experience Summit REGISTER: The Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 428 | |||