RealTalk MS

RealTalk MS

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RealTalk MS episodes

  • Episode 477: One Year After CAR T-Cell Therapy with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik
    Jan Janisch-Hanzlik was the first MS patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial. We met Jan last year, in episode 424 of RealTalk MS, when she gave us a first-hand report on how she was responding to this treatment.

    This week, Jan is back with an update on how she's responding to CAR T-cell therapy one year later.

    We're just two weeks away from the U.S. midterm elections. We're sharing some resources that will help you get ready to vote.

    And we'll remind you that MSToronto 2026 begins tomorrow, and you still have time to register for Patient Community Day.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: An update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy :22

    Some homework to help get you ready to vote in the U.S. midterm elections 2:44

    Jan Janisch-Hanzlik shares an update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy to treat her MS 6:37

    Share this episode 28:11

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 28:31

    Next week 29:12

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/477

    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: [email protected] 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

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

    VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

    LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik https://realtalkms.com/424

    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 477 Guest: Jan Janisch-Hanzlik

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    31 min
  • Episode 476: MS in the Workplace with Dana Foote
    What happens when you're diagnosed with a chronic, unpredictable condition just as your career is taking off? That's exactly what happened to my guest, Dana Foote.

    This week, Dana joins us to share her journey from hiding her MS diagnosis as a young auditor at one of the largest accounting organizations in the world to becoming National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations and a leader in the MS community.

    We'll also update you on the status of a disease-modifying therapy that has been submitted to the FDA for review as a potential treatment for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS.

    We're sharing details of the National MS Society's recent $8.9 million investment to support 15 cutting-edge research projects.

    We'll tell you about a study that shows physical therapy can produce confirmed disability improvement for people living with MS.

    And we'll remind you that with MSToronto 2026 just one week away, you can still register for Patient Community Day.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Managing MS in a demanding, high-stakes work environment :22

    The FDA grants fenebrutinib Priority Review status 1:22

    The National MS Society announced $8.9 million in new research investments 4:53

    A study shows ongoing physical therapy can lead to confirmed disability improvement 9:12

    We're one week away from MSToronto 2026. Will you be part of Patient Community Day? 13:40

    Dana Foote shares her corporate journey from a young auditor diagnosed with MS to National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations at KPMG US 15:40

    Share this episode 33:20

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 33:36

    Next week 34:21

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/476

    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: [email protected] 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

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    RealTalk MS Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh https://realtalkms.com/461

    STUDY: Physiotherapy and Confirmed Disability Improvement in People with Multiple Sclerosis https://msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00949-1/fulltext

    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 476 Guest: Dana Foote

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    37 min
  • Episode 475: New Tools and Strategies for Managing MS-Related Cognitive Changes with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

    Whether it's walking into a room and blanking on why you're there, struggling to pull up a word that's right on the tip of your tongue, or losing track of daily tasks, cognitive fatigue and brain fog can turn simple routines into exhausting hurdles.

    What makes cognitive changes particularly challenging is their invisibility. They don't show up on a routine check-in like mobility issues do. Family members might misread them as distraction. Employers might see them as disengagement. And all too often, clinicians don't have immediate, actionable tools to offer beyond standard advice.

    This week, we're talking with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a research neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Gromisch's work focuses on moving beyond the diagnostic label to give people real, evidence-based compensatory tools.

    We're discussing the science of prospective memory—remembering to perform planned actions in the future—and exploring how smart digital tools, strategic daily systems, and patient empowerment can help you take control and maintain your independence.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: New tools and strategies for managing and even improving MS-related cognitive changes :22

    We're less than 3 weeks away from MS Toronto 2026 Patient Community Day! Have you registered yet? 1:23

    Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch shares a preview of new digital tools to measure and manage MS-related cogntive changes 2:19

    Share this episode 28:39

    Download the RealTalk MS app 28:58

    Next week 29:42

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/475

    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: [email protected] 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

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    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 475 Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

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    31 min
  • Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman
    Most people don't think about home accessibility until mobility changes force the conversation. But what if you decide to take control of the unknown and design your living space for whatever the future might bring?

    My guest, Sarah Timmerman, explains how she took total control of her future by designing and building what she calls The House That MS Built—a home engineered from the foundation up to future-proof her independence through smart, universal design and relentless self-advocacy.

    We'll also tell you about a research team that identified 4 biomarkers that, together, can help a neurologist understand whether a stem cell therapy is working for their patient weeks before that patient returns to the clinic.

    We're sharing results of a trial that answered the question, "Can diet actually change what's happening at the cellular level inside the brain?" You'll want to hear these results!

    And we'll tell you about a research team that has developed a derivative of an HIV medication that restored mobility and vision to mice with the mouse version of MS.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: The House that MS Built :22

    Have you downloaded the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device? 1:16

    Researchers at Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York identify 4 biomarkers that can help physicians track the response to stem cell therapy in people living with progressive MS 2:01

    New research identifies how gut health can lead to nerve cell damage in MS 4:49

    Repurposed HIV medication restores lost function in the mouse model of MS 8:48

    Sarah Timmerman shares her story and explains how relentless self-advocacy became the foundation for the House that MS Built 12:55

    Share this episode 24:09

    Next week 24:29

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    STUDY: Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Neural Progenitors on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13585449

    STUDY: High-Fat Diet Promotes T-Cell Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12974-026-04049-x

    STUDY: The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aei2870

    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 474 Guest: Sarah Timmerman

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    26 min
  • Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee

    RealTalk MS is celebrating our ninth anniversary, and we're marking the milestone with a special guest! Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, returns to the show for a candid, forward-looking conversation about why today represents one of the most promising moments for advancing MS research and transforming clinical care.

    We're taking a hard look at the game-changers on the horizon: what it will take to shorten the diagnostic journey from years down to mere hours, why it's time to retire outdated disease labels in favor of true precision medicine, and the surprising science behind testing GLP-1s for neuroprotection.

    From unlocking massive clinical data sets to fighting for research dollars on Capitol Hill, Tim pulls back the curtain on the Society's strategic plan to end MS once and for all. Pop in your earbuds and join us in celebrating nine years of community and conversation!

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Dr. Tim Coetzee briefs us on the National MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care :18

    Download the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet 1:56

    We gave the RealTalk MS website a glow-up! 2:37

    Check your congressional representative's grade in the Congressional Healthcare Access Report Card 3:07

    Dr. Tim Coetzee discusses the MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care 3:46

    Share this episode 37:04

    Next week 37:24

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    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 473 Guest: Dr. Tim Coetzee

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    39 min
  • Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves
    We are less than 40 days away from MSToronto2026—the joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Scientific Congress. While the congress brings together the world's leading MS researchers and clinicians, Patient Community Day —in person and online—is designed specifically for people affected by multiple sclerosis. This week, Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond join me to preview what to expect from Patient Community Day 2026.

    With less than 50 days until the midterm elections in the United States, the National MS Society is hosting a webinar you can't afford to miss, titled MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care. We'll tell you how to register (And we'll remind you why you should!).

    A 22-country survey of over 17,000 people with MS revealed that the invisible symptoms of MS remain critically unaddressed. We're sharing the details of this landmark survey.

    We're sharing early trial results of a precision red blood cell therapy designed to halt myelin attacks without shutting down the immune system.

    We'll tell you about the German research team that's repurposing a common, low-cost medication into a skin patch designed to jumpstart natural remyelination.

    And we'll share a study showing how simple, short voice recordings can predict long-term cognitive changes and brain volume loss in people living with MS.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: A preview of Patient Community Day 2026 :22

    The National MS Society is hosting a webinar you shouldn't miss 1:32

    Results of a landmark survey reveal critical unmet needs among people living with MS 5:27

    A new approach to preventing MS inflammatory attacks while keeping the rest of the immune system intact 8:27

    Could a skin patch successfully promote myelin repair? 11:42

    Can analyzing regular speech predict future brain atrophy in people with MS? 14:34

    Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond give us a preview of Patient Community Day 2026 18:53

    Share this episode 33:01

    Next week 33:20

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    WEBINAR: Advocacy In Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://nmss.quorum.us/event/37051

    STUDY: Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Survey: Patient-Reported Data on the Prevalence, Burden, and Management of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Europe https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261480514

    STUDY: Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Peptide-Coupled Red Blood Cells Induces Antigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells https://pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2614908123

    STUDY: Automated Speech Analysis Reveals Progressive Linguistic Changes Associated With Subsequent Gray Matter Loss in Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585261477213

    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 472 Guest: Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves

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    35 min
  • Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis
    Relapses make life with MS unpredictable. Understanding what they are, why they happen, and how best to manage them can make a relapse less scary and easier to navigate. This week, Dr. Gabriela Karolidis, a board-certified neurologist and neuroimmunologist at Thomas Jefferson University, joins us for a deep dive into MS relapses.

    The MS International Federation has just updated the Atlas of MS, showing more than 3 million people living with MS worldwide. We're sharing the details behind the new numbers.

    We'll also share a study showing how wearable activity trackers add a dimension of real-world data that provides a more complete picture of an individual's mobility throughout the day.

    We'll tell you about research on Vitamin D supplements that fails to determine whether they are beneficial for people living with MS.

    We're sharing study results showing that social and socioeconomic factors clearly affect cognitive function among people living with MS.

    We're also sharing results from a nationwide study in Denmark that focused on whether high-efficacy DMTs affect progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA).

    And we'll tell you about a fall prevention study that you may be eligible to participate in (compensation provided!).

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Navigating a relapse :22

    Global MS prevalence surpasses 3 million :57

    A study shows that wearable activity trackers help create a more complete picture of an individual's mobility 6:38

    Researchers attempt to determine whether Vitamin D supplements help people living with MS 10:14

    A study provides evidence that social and socioeconomic factors impact cognitive function in people living with MS 13:58

    A nationwide study in Denmark focuses on whether high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies have an impact on progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) 17:20

    You may be eligible to participate in a fall prevention study (compensation is provided) 21:11

    Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis takes us on a deep dive into MS relapses 22:58

    Share this episode 37:52

    Next week 38:12

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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: Global Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis Surpasses 3 Million: 2024 Update of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261479954

    RESOURCE: Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://msif.org/atlas

    STUDY: Diurnal Step Count Patterns in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261475910

    STUDY: Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Effect on Relapse Frequency and MRI Activity in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.71692

    STUDY: Social and Socioeconomic Factors and Cognitive Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221103482600475X

    STUDY: Effectiveness of Escalation Versus Early High-Efficacy Therapies on Progression Independent of Relapse Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: A Danish Nationwide Study https://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001690

    PARTICIPATE: University of Illinois Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life Research Laboratory Fall Prevention Study Email: [email protected]

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    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 471 Guest: Dr. Gabriela Karolidis

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    41 min
  • Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins

    Wise men and women remind us that life is a marathon, and not a sprint. Joining us this week is Benji Wilkins. Benji is a magician in the U.K., and for 42 days this summer, his life was quite literally a marathon. In the process, Benji raised money to help his mom, who lives with MS, and he raised awareness of MS across the U.K. and around the world.

    We're also sharing results of a study that focused on gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people living with MS.

    We'll tell you how you can participate in the MOMENT-MS study and help researchers develop a smartphone app that takes a novel approach to managing MS-related pain.

    And we're reminding you to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. It's your opportunity to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world!

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Running a marathon a day (when you're not a runner) for MS :22

    Cleveland Clinic researchers look at gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people with MS 1:02

    University of Washington researchers are developing an app to manage MS pain using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. And you can help them! 6:53

    Sign up to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world 5:27

    Benji Wilkins describes what it's like to run 42 marathons in 42 days on behalf of his mom, who lives with MS 6:53

    Share this episode 29:01

    Next week 29:20

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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: Feasibility and Outcomes of Gait Training With a Powered Exoskeleton in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40465831

    SUPPORT: Marathons For Mum Web: https://marathonsformum.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjitwilkins

    PARTICIPATE: MOMENT-MS Study Web: https://uwmsrehabwell.org/moment-ms Email: [email protected] Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TA5-9dy7s

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Dayhttps://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    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 470 Guest: Benji Wilkins

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    31 min
  • Episode 469: Maintaining and Even Improving Cognitive Function If You're Living with MS with Dr. Anna Kratz

    Cognitive changes in MS—fluctuations in processing speed, memory, and executive function—can significantly impact daily life, yet they're often misunderstood or overlooked in routine clinical exams. This week, we are joined by Dr. Anna Kratz, clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, to discuss actionable, evidence-based ways to navigate cognitive challenges.

    Dr. Kratz breaks down the latest findings from the CogDetect-MS study, exploring how daily symptom fluctuations, complex medication regimens, and common substances like caffeine and cannabis influence brain fog. She also shares practical compensatory workarounds and introduces a no-cost digital self-management resource, My MSToolKit.

    We'll also explain the new framework for describing MS that's been proposed by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis.

    We're sharing study results that reveal why detecting even a single silent lesion on an MRI should trigger an immediate conversation about stepping up to high-efficacy therapy.

    And we'll tell you about 2 advanced MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline — even in the absence of any relapses or new lesions on MRI.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Maintaining and improving cognitive function :22

    The International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis calls for updating the way MS is described 1:12

    A study provides evidence for switching your DMT when there's even a single silent lesion on your MRI 6:53

    Scientists identify two MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline in early relapsing-remitting MS 10:53

    Dr. Anna Kratz discusses maintaining and improving cognitive function 15:33

    Share this episode 42:13

    Next week 42:33

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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

    PAPER: Towards a Biologically Informed Description of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Course -- A Roadmap for Transition https://rdcu.be/fxBw1

    STUDY: Treatment Escalation After Clinically Silent MRI Lesions in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awag252/8741305

    STUDY: Paramagnetic Rim Lesions and Choroid Plexus Volume at Diagnosis Are Associated With Cognitive Progression Independent of Relapse and MRI Activity in Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.70448

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

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    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 469 Guest: Dr. Anna Kratz

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    44 min
  • Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva

    Imagine your spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with MS...shortly after you were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and given just a 15% chance of survival. All of a sudden, the roles of patient and care partner are up for grabs -- and they change with almost daily frequency.

    That's exactly the scenario my guest, Kathleen Silva, faced. Kathleen is joining me to discuss how she and her husband, Rick, survived and thrived amid that frightening chaos. (Spoiler alert -- no one died!)

    We'll also tell you about an investigational drug that's the first to promise neuroprotection during an MS relapse.

    We're sharing study results that show people with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon.

    We'll provide compelling evidence for anyone with MS to quit smoking.

    And we're breaking down the results of a study that analyzed mortality rates in cases where MS was listed as the underlying cause of death.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: When the roles of patient and care partner get turned upside down and inside out :22

    The FDA green lights clinical trials for an investigational drug that promises neuroprotection during an MS relapse 1:08

    People living with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon 5:43

    Study results provide startling evidence for quitting smoking if you're living with MS 8:34

    In spite of highly effective DMTs, mortality rates for deaths in which MS is listed as the underlying cause are increasing 14:05

    Kathleen Silva takes us through the harrowing time in her life when her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with MS shortly after she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and given just a 15% chance of surviving 19:23

    Share this episode 35:12

    Next week 36:31

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: 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: [email protected] 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: Use of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Among People with Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261442033

    STUDY: Impact of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption on Disease Progression and MRI In People With Multiple Sclerosis: Results of the Prospective Cohort Study NationMS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261464304

    STUDY: Racial and Ethnic Trends and Comorbidity Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis Mortality https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000148

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    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 468 Guest: Kathleen Silva

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    39 min

About RealTalk MS

From the publisher's feed

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…

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