RealTalk MS

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

May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is "My MS Diagnosis," and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, "You have MS." This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis. Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee. We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS. And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: World MS Day! :22 Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS 2:40 Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS 4:34 Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis 8:40 Share this episode 28:51 Next week 29:12 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://worldmsday.org/poster-maker STUDY: The Exercise Hormone Irisin Has Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01527-7 CLINICAL TRIAL: A Study of Nasal Foralumab in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06292923 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 456 Guest: Dr. Nancy Sicotte Privacy Policy

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Episode 455: MS and Your Oral Health with Dr. Ann Spolarich

2w ago00:31:05Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(26)00153-9 ONLINE SURVEY: Bladder-Related Fall Risk in People with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/rs-bladder-fall-risk JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 455 Guest: Dr. Ann Spolarich Privacy Policy

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Episode 454: Managing MS-Related Depression with Dr. Anthony Feinstein

3w ago00:30:03Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520 STUDY RESULTS: Neurology Wait Times After Primary Care or Emergency Department Visits Among the Commercially Insured Population in the United States: 2019-2023 https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218008 CLINICAL TRIAL: The SetPoint System as a Pro-Remyelination Therapy for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06796504 WEBCAST: Make It Count Now: Mobilizing for Federal Funding in a Changing Policy Landscape https://nmss.quorum.us/event/33151 READ: The National MS Society Statement for The Record: "Profits Over Patients: The PBM Business Model Under Scrutiny" https://cdn.sanity.io/files/y936aps5/production/0372d3964cc269a404c17dff8ca919b34d0c6603.pdf AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 454 Guest: Dr. Anthony Feinstein Privacy Policy

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Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove

4w ago00:37:18Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520 STUDY: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2026/04170/effectivess_of_cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for.27.aspx STUDY: Physical Exercise Modulates T Cell Activity and Mitigates Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Through Vagus Nerve Engagement https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159126002710 UCSF Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA) https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT06940323 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 453 Guest: Dr. Riley Bove Privacy Policy

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

Apr 2900:29:42Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://realtalkms.com/440 STUDY: Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261437966 STUDY (Plain English Version): Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/04/23/impact-of-cancer-on-multiple-sclerosis-related-healthcare-and-disease-modifying-drug-use-a-multinational-cohort-study-explained DONATE: The Mendoza Family Fund (in Partnership with the National MS Society) https://nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/mendoza LEARN MORE: ChatGPT For Clinicians https://chatgpt.com/plans/clinicians AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 452 Guest: Dr. Larry Sherman Privacy Policy

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

Apr 2000:32:34Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 Studyhttps://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpt.70235 STUDY: A Gain-of-Function Retstat Variant from High-Altitude Adaptation Promotes Myelination Via a Neuronal Dihydroretinoic Acid-RXR-Y Pathway https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(26)00013-9 ARTICLE: Areas for Improvement for High-Quality Multiple Sclerosis Care: Insights from Interviews with People with Multiple Sclerosis, Providers, and Clinical Educators https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657426000300 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 451 Guest: Dr. Ludwig Kappos Privacy Policy

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Episode 450: Exercise is Medicine for People with MS with Dr. Robert Motl

Apr 1300:33:21Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 Mononucleosishttps://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000082 STUDY: A Radiolabeled Dendrimer Non-Invasively Identifies and Tracks Innate Immune Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67907-x AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 450 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl Privacy Policy

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

Apr 600:37:57Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://iconquerms.org National Institutes of Health Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/disabilityhealthresearch STUDY: Economic Value of Anti-CD20 Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studieshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261426816 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 449 Guests: Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt Privacy Policy

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

Mar 3000:31:48Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://realtalkms.com/walkms JOIN: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 446 -- MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern https://realtalkms.com/446 SURVEY RESULTS: Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/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 Email for More Information: DpQol-FallPrev@illionois.edu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 448 Guests: David Silbaugh, Cliff Currie, and Michelle Constantine Hibbs Privacy Policy

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Episode 447: Walking with Many Sisters Toward a Cure with Brigitte Delaney

Mar 2300:23:47Summary ready

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 Phone: (310) 526-2283 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 https://realtalkms.com/walkms JOIN: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Adherence to the MIND Diet and Longitudinal Brain Structural Changes Over a Decade: Evidence from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2026/3/11/jnnp-2025-336957 STUDY: Effect of Late-Onset on Multiple Sclerosis Phenotype and Outcome: Evidence from a Multi-National Registry https:/link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-026-13632-4 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 447 Guests: Brigitte Delaney Privacy Policy

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Episode 447: Walking with Many Sisters Toward a Cure with Brigitte Delaney