Podcast Summary

Podcast: Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis
Episode: The Research on Lifestyle and MS with Rachel Johnson and Dr Jonny White | S8E1
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Alex Holden (Chief Executive, Overcoming MS)
Guests: Rachel Johnson (Head of Information and Research, Overcoming MS), Dr Jonny White (Medical Advisor, Overcoming MS)

Episode Overview

This episode serves as an in-depth exploration of the current research landscape on lifestyle interventions in multiple sclerosis (MS), guided by Overcoming MS’s mission to empower people to manage MS through evidence-based lifestyle changes and medical therapies. Alex Holden welcomes Rachel Johnson and Dr Jonny White to discuss their roles, new research and resources, the importance of data collection and robust information, and how Overcoming MS is contributing to and disseminating the growing body of MS research.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backgrounds and Roles in Overcoming MS

• Rachel Johnson: Has a background in psychology and health research, passionate about empowering individuals with knowledge to manage MS. She oversees the quality of health information at Overcoming MS and evaluates the impact of program services.
  • "[I believe in] empowering people through the right information and support so they can make positive changes in their day to day lives." (03:04, Rachel Johnson)
• Dr Jonny White: Medical advisor, involved in curating, evaluating, and translating the wealth of MS research, particularly as it relates to lifestyle and holistic self-management. He and Rachel collaborate to make complex research accessible and actionable.

2. Growth and Impact of Lifestyle MS Research

• A significant shift has occurred in MS research, now encompassing robust studies on lifestyle alongside medication.
• Rachel notes a dramatic rise in research: “There’s more research on MS and lifestyle than I thought there would be, which was a really, really lovely surprise.” (14:24, Rachel Johnson)
• Dr Jonny outlines the main pillars from international consensus papers: diet quality, stress management, physical activity, social connection, non-smoking, and sleep.
  • “There’s never been a better time to have MS in terms of the sheer volume of work that is being done and the really positive results that are coming out.” (00:17 & 36:10, Dr Jonny White)

3. What’s New & Exciting in 2026

• Rachel highlights expanding the charity’s information strategy and symptom-focused resources on fatigue, sleep, and cognition (09:06).
• Jonny celebrates the new British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) module for HCPs, annual retreats, and opportunities to partner with researchers and communities (11:17).
• Plans to share insight from community surveys and service evaluations at conferences, with thanks to community members for their participation.

4. Alignment With Latest Research

• The Overcoming MS Program is strongly validated by emerging research, especially regarding physical activity, diet (notably Mediterranean-style), and stress management.
  • “Exercise is probably the single most powerful lifestyle change that people can make to support their health and wellbeing, and it’s widely recommended for people with MS.” (15:00, Rachel Johnson)
• Combining multiple evidence-based lifestyle changes yields the greatest improvements in life quality and symptom management.

5. Holistic Management: Research & Clinical Conversations

• Holistic management tools for MS are grounded in high-quality evidence. Having effective conversations with healthcare teams is challenging but critical; advice includes framing discussions in terms of benefits and risks (18:53).
  • "Speak the language of the person you’re talking to." – Dr Jonny White (18:53)
• Recent consensus statements from major organizations reaffirm the importance of lifestyle for MS management.

6. Evaluating the Program: Collecting Impact Data

• Robust research methods, including validated outcome measures (MS-Qual for quality of life, University of Washington Self-Efficacy Scale), are now standard for evaluating Overcoming MS services such as the Pathways course and retreats.
• Rachel stresses survey participation for solid data sets and future reporting:
  • “When we ask for information, those surveys, please answer because that pays it forward for the next group coming behind...” (11:35, Dr Jonny White)
  • "The bigger the data set that we have, the more robust and strong our data is, and the more we can chat about it publicly." (25:45, Rachel Johnson)

7. Opportunities for Community Participation & Research

• Community members are encouraged to join studies not just on medications but also on lifestyle and symptom management.
  • UK’s MS Register at Swansea University is noted as a key resource (27:31, Dr Jonny White).
• Overcoming MS implements strict processes for vetting research studies and connects with early career researchers to promote high-quality work.
• Examples of recent studies: cold therapies (for heat sensitivity), online psychological interventions, experiences with CBD.

8. Quality and Trust: Patient Information Forum Certification

• Overcoming MS is pursuing PIF TICK certification (UK’s official quality mark for health information), requiring rigorous internal processes to ensure all web-based resources meet high standards for need, accessibility, evidence, and impact.
  • “Having a kite mark of quality on our information resources will really help us.” (34:30, Rachel Johnson)
• Certification will enhance trust among both MS patients and healthcare professionals globally.

9. Reflections on the State and Future of MS Research

• Research into MS medication continues to advance (e.g., DMTs, CAR T, new symptomatic treatments).
• Lifestyle research is establishing itself as an essential pillar alongside medical treatments, with international consensus now recognizing its significance.
• Jonny underscores a shift from “is there evidence?” to “how do we effectively communicate and implement it?”
  • “So many of us have been told for so long that there’s no evidence for that. That mantra just destroys hope. That’s not the case.” (41:04, Dr Jonny White)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Physical Activity as Central Pillar

  • “Exercise is probably the single most powerful lifestyle change that people can make to support their health and wellbeing.” (15:00, Rachel Johnson)

• State of Research

  • “There’s never been a better time to have MS in terms of the sheer volume of work that is being done and the really positive results that are coming out.” (00:17, 36:04, Dr Jonny White)

• On Holistic Management & Conversations With HCPs

  • “Speak the language of the person you're talking to…there are just loads of tangible benefits.” (18:53, Dr Jonny White)

• On Data & Impact

  • “The bigger the data set…the more we can chat about it publicly.” (25:45, Rachel Johnson)
  • “Or the one or two year data, which is, I think, even more important because this is a lifelong condition and we want these changes to be sustained and grow positively over time.” (26:57, Dr Jonny White)

• Quality Mark Certification

  • “We really want to be the go-to trusted provider for this kind of information for people with MS.” (34:53, Rachel Johnson)

• Shifting the Narrative

  • “So many of us have been told for so long that there’s no evidence for that…That's not the case. It's never been the case.” (41:04, Dr Jonny White)

Important Timestamps

• 01:56 – Rachel Johnson’s background & philosophy
• 04:04 – Dr Jonny White on the evolution of Overcoming MS’s research approach
• 09:06 – 2026 priorities: new symptom-based resources and info strategy
• 11:17 – Excitement about new facilitator programs, Pathways, and BSLM module
• 14:24 – Research areas aligning with the Overcoming MS Program
• 15:00 – Evidence for physical activity, diet, and multifaceted approaches
• 18:53 – Advice for talking to clinicians about lifestyle changes
• 23:29 – Approach to data and impact measurement
• 27:31 – How to get involved in research studies (beyond drug trials)
• 31:40 – Pursuing PIF TICK certification and process improvements
• 36:04 – Reflections on medication and the broader research landscape
• 41:04 – Overcoming the “no evidence” narrative

Conclusion

This episode makes clear that the Overcoming MS team is at the forefront of not just collecting and evaluating lifestyle MS research, but also making it accessible, actionable, and trustworthy. There's a focus on transparency, community involvement, and striving for external validation (like PIF TICK) to enhance trust. Both Rachel and Jonny encourage MS patients to engage in research and stress the power of community data to move standards of care and evidence forward. The episode strikes a hopeful, pragmatic tone—MS research (both medical and lifestyle) is accelerating, and individuals living with MS today have unprecedented opportunities to shape their own care and contribute to new knowledge.