Podcast
RealTalk MS
Hosted by Jon Strum · EN
Jon Strum cuts through all the jargon and breaks down the latest multiple sclerosis news. You'll meet the scientists who are creating tomorrow's MS treatments today. You'll hear from the experts discussing how the latest tweaks and changes to our healthcare laws will impact your MS treatment. And we'll be talking to the courageous MS warriors who are out there advocating on behalf of the MS community every day, as well as the men and women who are committed to living their best lives with MS and living their best lives as MS caregivers. If you're dealing with multiple sclerosis in your life -- as a patient, caregiver, family member, or friend -- join us each week for RealTalk MS.
44episodes
Episodes
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Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra
1w ago00:37:16Summary readyDuring 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 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: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00396-2/fulltext PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/07/22/sex-differences-in-healthcare-use-before-the-first-multiple-sclerosis-related-demyelinating-event-explained LISTEN: Dr. Helen Tremlett Discusses the MS Prodrome https://realtalkms.com/321 STUDY: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482159 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research 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 465 Guest: Dr. Avinash Chandra Privacy Policy
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Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom
2w ago00:32:20Summary readyIf 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 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 Unravelled: The Story of an MS Warrior by Liat Shalom https://unraveledgraphicnovel.com STUDY: CD4+ T-Cells Reactive to Epstein-Barr Virus Late Lytic Antigens are Enriched in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adz6566 STUDY: Utility of Multi-Analyte Protein Assay to Distinguish Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Relapse from Pseudoexacerbation https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00984-2 STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH: Perimenopause and Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/ms-study-alert-perimenopause-survey STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research 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 464 Guest: Liat Shalom Privacy Policy
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Episode 463: A Novel Approach to Treating MS-Related Depression with Dr. Robert Motl and Kelly
3w ago00:37:06Summary readyLiving 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 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: Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2600993 PARTICIPATE: Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis (METS for MS) Email: METSforMS@uic.edu Phone Ariel: (312) 355-1790 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 463 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl, Kelly Privacy Policy
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Episode 462: Taking Your MS to College? Understand Your Right to Accommodation with Britt Neff
Jul 600:30:16Summary readyThe 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 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 Pheno Therapeutics https://phenotherapeutics.com STUDY: Live Attenuated MMR and Varicella Vaccinations and Multiple Sclerosis Activity https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2849165 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 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20552173261448005 STUDY: Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Neurocognitive Disorder Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Using MRI and Clinical Data https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.70568 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 462 Guest: Britt Neff Privacy Policy
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Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh
Jun 2900:34:04Summary readyA 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 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 PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL: Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2415988 VIDEO: Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Fox Discusses the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJQ93qdlXrU GALLUP POLL: U.S. Adults' Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low https://news.gallup.com/poll/710942/adults-ability-afford-healthcare-five-year-low.aspx 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 461 Guest: Dr. Jiwon Oh Privacy Policy
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Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman
Jun 2200:33:43Summary readyNext 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 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: Understanding the Unmet Needs of People with MS at Diagnosis and Throughout Their Care Journey: Insights from a Survey-Based Study https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00942-y STUDY: Drivers of Prevalence in Major Motor Neurodegenerative Diseases: Temporal Trends in Sweden and France (2003-2022) https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218072 REGISTER: ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day https://www.ectrimspatientcommunity.eu PARTICPATE IN RESEARCH: Survey: Automatic and Reflective Determinants, Fatigue, and Physical Activity for People with Multiple Sclerosis https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_douenJftXAcGxVk 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 460 Guest: Matt Knaggs, Colin Goodman Privacy Policy
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Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice
Jun 1500:47:55Summary readyFor 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 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 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 459 Guest: Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice Privacy Policy
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Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger
Jun 800:31:50Summary readyThis 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 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: Daily Temporal Associations Between Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People with Multiple Sclerosis https://archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(26)00035-3/fulltext BOOK: My Superhero with Wheels https://amazon.com/My-Superhero-wheels-True-Story/dp/B0GWVGSWX5/ref=sr_1_1 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 458 Guest: Dr. Stephen Krieger Privacy Policy
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Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove
Jun 100:29:35Summary readyLast 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 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 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 457 Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, Dr. Riley Bove Privacy Policy
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Episode 456:The First 100 Days Following Your MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte
May 2500:30:09Summary readyMay 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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