RealTalk MS

If you've listened to this podcast before, you already know that we avoid hype, and we stick to talking about evidence-based science. So, let me say right up front -- today, the cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. However, a research team has identified a bacterial toxin that may prove to be the cause of MS onset as well as MS relapses.

Joining me for an exclusive conversation about this discovery is Dr. Timothy Vartanian, who leads the team that made the discovery, and Dr. Richard Rudick, whose career has focused on experimental therapeutics for MS, playing a key role in the development of both Avonex and Tysabri.

We're also talking about a stem cell therapy called MSC-NP that, in a Phase 1 clinical trial, delivered positive outcomes among people living with progressive MS.

We'll tell you about a study that demonstrated why EDSS alone does not accurately define an individual's MS journey.

We're sharing news from the International Progressive MS Alliance about a new research pipeline that will focus on improving well-being for people living with progressive MS.

And we'll tell you where you can catch a replay of the International Progressive MS Alliance's latest webcast, Developing Treatments to End MS Progression.

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

This Week: Is this the cause of MS? :22

STUDY: MSC:NP, a stem cell therapy for MS, delivers a positive outcome among people living with progressive MS 1:33

STUDY: Does EDSS tell the whole story of your MS status? 5:03

The International Progressive MS Alliance funds a research pipeline focused on improving well-being among people living with progressive MS 8:42

Webcast Replay: Developing Treatments to End MS Progression 10:24

Dr. Richard Rudick and Dr. Timothy Vartanian discuss a new discovery that may lead scientists to the cause of MS 11:36

Share this episode 29:25

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 29:46

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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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Epsilon Toxin-Producing Clostridium Perfringens Colonize the MS Gut and Epsilon Toxin Overcomes Immune Privilege https://www.jci.org/articles/view/163239

STUDY: Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitors Attenuate Proinflammatory Microglial Activation Via Paracine Mechanisms https://futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/rme-2023-0005

STUDY: Cognitive Impairment, Fatigue and Depression in Multiple Sclerosis: Is There a Difference Between Benign and Non-Benign MS? https://msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(23)00134-7/fulltext#%20

International Progressive MS Alliance: Well-Being in Multiple Sclerosis Research Funding Opportunity https://progressivemsalliance.org/2023/03/15/well-being-in-multiple-sclerosis-research-funding-opportunity

Prioritizing Progressive MS Rehabilitation Research: A Call from the International Progressive MS Alliance https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1352458521999970

Webcast Replay: Developing Treatments to End MS Progression https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch permalink&v=748824966910470

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

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Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 292 Guests: Dr. Richard Rudick and Dr. Timothy Vartanian

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

To tell or not to tell. When it comes to disclosing your MS to friends and family, that is the question. Choosing when to disclose and to whom to disclose is a deeply personal decision. Joining me to talk about some of the risks and benefits of disclosing your diagnosis is Dr. Victoria Leavitt, a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher, and assistant professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University.

Well also tell you about a just-announced collaboration to develop an Epstein-Barr Virus vaccine (and we'll tell you why that could be a huge step toward ending MS forever!)

We're sharing the details behind the MS International Federation's application to have three MS disease-modifying therapies added to the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines.

We'll tell you how a study that tested a fall prevention program for people living with MS who used a wheelchair or scooter full-time may have failed...and yet succeeded.

We're sharing the results of a study that set out to determine whether people over 50 who were living with MS were increasing their use of health care services because of their MS or simply because they were aging.

And we'll tell you about a study that focused on the psychosocial impact of MS on children who had a parent living with MS.

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

This Week: Disclosing Your MS :22

Merck teams up with ModeX Therapeutics on an EBV vaccine 1:10

The MSIF applies to have 3 DMTs added to the WHO list of essential medicines 3:22

STUDY: A fall prevention program for people with MS who are full-time wheelchair or scooter users 6:47

STUDY: Health care usage among people over 50 who are living with MS 9:33

STUDY: The psychosocial impact of MS on children with a parent living with MS 12:02

Dr. Victoria Leavitt discusses the risks and rewards associated with disclosing your MS to friends and family 15:24

Share this episode 32:35

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 32:55

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Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/290

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Editorial: Toward Equitable Access to Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis https://thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1474-4422%2823%2900041-8

STUDY: Online Delivery of the Individualized Reduction of Falls Intervention for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis Who Use a Wheelchair or Scooter Full-Time: A Pilot Study https://meridian.allenpress.com/ijmsc/article/25/2/82/491441/Online-Delivery-of-the-Individualized-Reduction-of

STUDY: Outcomes and Health Care Service Use in Adults 50 Years and Older With and Without Multiple Sclerosis https://meridian.allenpress.com/ijmsc/article/25/2/56/486192/Outcomes-and-Health-Care-Service-Use-in-Adults-50

STUDY: The Psychosocial Impact of Parental Multiple Sclerosis on Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review https://meridian.allenpress.com/ijmsc/article/25/2/63/487609/The-Psychosocial-Impact-of-Parental-Multiple

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

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Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 291 Guest: Dr. Victoria Leavitt

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

If you're a regular listener, you've heard me say that the things that people affected by MS want the most -- access to quality healthcare, affordable prescription medications, and funding for MS research -- are, to a large extent, functions of public policy. The people who decide whether we get these things are our elected officials at both the state and federal level. That's why advocacy should be a high priority for everyone affected by MS.

Make no mistake. MS advocacy delivers real results. Joining me in exploring how advocacy drives changes that improve the lives of people living with MS, and why you may want to consider becoming an MS activist, are Holly Pendell, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Advocacy and MS activist Angel Hardy Heinz.

Ready to learn more about MS advocacy? You can take the next step from the comfort of your own home. We're sharing the details of next week's virtual MS Activist Rally.

We'll tell you about a study that found a Mediterranean Diet could have a positive impact on cognition among people living with MS

You'll learn about a clinical trial that's currently underway to determine whether aerobic exercise can promote myelin repair.

We're sharing the details about an upcoming International Progressive MS Alliance webcast that's focused on developing treatments for progressive MS.

And we'll tell you how high school seniors or college graduates who are affected by MS can apply for an Oscar the MS Monkey academic scholarship.

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

This Week: We're all about MS advocacy :22

The virtual MS Activist Rally takes place March 28. Are you registered??? 5:22

STUDY RESULTS: Mediterranean Diet Is associated with cognition in MS 8:01

A clinical trial is underway to determine whether aerobic exercise can promote myelin repair 9:43

The International Progressive MS Alliance is hosting a webcast focused on developing treatments for progressive MS 11:01

Oscar the MS Monkey is accepting academic scholarship applications from high school seniors and college graduates who are affected by MS 11:57

Holly Pendell, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Advocacy and MS activist Angel Hardy Heinz discuss how advocacy makes a real difference in the lives of people affected by MS, and how you can get involved 13:49

Share this episode 27:12

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 27:32

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/290

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

National MS Society MS Activist Rally registration https://p2a.co/Rally2023

STUDY: Mediterranean Diet is Associated with Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis https://aan.com/MSA/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/52954

Webcast: Developing Treatments to End MS Progression registration https://msif.org/progressiveMSwebcast

Oscar the MS Monkey Academic Scholarship Application http://mroscarmonkey.org/site/Scholarship%20Application%202023.pdf

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 290 Guests: Holly Pendell and Angel Hardy Heinz

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

For many people, one of the most challenging aspects of living with MS is living with uncertainty. Living with unanswerable questions like, "Is today the day I experience a relapse?" "Will my disability worsen?" "Will I be able to continue working?" "Will I be able to take care of my family?"

These are all very real questions, and while there may not be answers for them today, there are steps you can take and strategies you can adopt to ensure that you're managing and minimizing the uncertainty of living with MS.

Joining me to talk about her journey as a mom living with MS and to share how she's learned to cope with the uncertainty of MS is MS advocate Sarah Wolfe. Also joining our conversation with specific strategies for living your best life despite the uncertainties of MS is Dr. Laura Hancock, a neuropsychologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

It's a big topic, and I'm devoting this entire MS Awareness Week episode of RealTalk MS to my conversation with Sarah Wolfe and Dr. Laura Hancock.

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

This Week: It's MS Awareness Week and we're talking about living with the uncertainty of MS :22

MS advocate Sarah Wolfe and Neuropsychologist Dr. Laura Hancock discuss the many different facets of successfully living with the uncertainty of MS 3:38

Share this episode 39:55

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 40:15

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/289

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 289 Guests: Sarah Wolfe and Dr. Laura Hancock

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

When you visit the Oceans of Hope U.K. website, it reads, "Oceans of Hope is for people with MS, led by people with MS." It goes on to say, "Our aim is to offer people from all over the world the opportunity to experience sailing as a way of learning new skills and restoring the self-confidence which can be stolen by MS."

The folks at Oceans of Hope U.K. can make that claim with high confidence. My guest today is the founder of Oceans of Hope U.K., Robert Munns, who lives with MS himself. Robert had what he describes as a life-changing experience while serving as a member of the crew on what turned out to be an unforgettable sailing adventure. Robert's story is one you won't want to miss.

Today, Oceans of Hope U.K. offers anyone living with MS the opportunity to experience that same personal transformation that Robert experienced.

When you review your MRI scans with your neurologist, the focus is on those white matter lesions that characterize MS. However, study results announced at the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum show that white matter lesions are not the cause of severe MS disability. We're breaking down this game-changing research.

And speaking of game changers, we're sharing the details of a small, portable MRI device that can effectively image MS lesions.

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

This Week: News from the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum and a story that I hope you find as compelling as I did :22

Study results show that white matter lesions are not the cause of severe MS disability 2:22

A portable less invasive MRI device capable of imaging MS lesions 6:33

Meet Robert Munns, the founder of Oceans of Hope UK 9:25

Share this episode 37:20

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 37:41

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/288

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Oceans of Hope U.K. https://oceansofhope.co.uk

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 288 Guest: Robert Munns

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

Last week in San Diego, the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis convened their annual meeting, the ACTRIMS Forum. One of the highlights of this meeting is the presentation of the Barancik Prize, awarded in recognition of exceptional innovation in MS research.

This year's winner of the Barancik Prize is Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, a clinician scientist at the University of Manitoba. The Barancik Prize is administered by the National MS Society, and this year's award recognizes Dr. Marrie's landmark discoveries that deepen our understanding of how and when MS evolves.

During the ACTRIMS Forum, Dr. Marrie joined me to discuss her groundbreaking research and the impact it's had on MS care.

If you're a regular listener, you've probably heard me say that the things that people affected by MS want most -- access to quality healthcare, affordable prescription medications, and funding for MS research are, to a large extent, all functions of public policy. The people who decide whether we get these things are our elected officials at the state and federal level. That's why advocacy is a high priority for people affected by MS.

The National MS Society's Public Policy Conference takes place next week, March 6-8, in Washington, D.C. Joining me to discuss how advocacy makes a real difference in influencing pending legislation, while giving us a preview of what we can expect to see and hear at this year's conference, is the National MS Society's Executive Vice-President for Advocacy and Healthcare Access, Bari Talente.

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

This Week: We're back from the ACTRIMS Forum and a conversation with this year's winner of the Barancik Prize for innovation in MS research :22

Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie discusses some of her groundbreaking research and its impact on MS care 1:57

We are one week away from the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. 17:18

Bari Talente, the National MS Society's Executive Vice-President of Advocacy and Healthcare Access, discusses the importance of advocacy, while sharing a preview of the legislative issues that MS activists will be advocating for next week on Capitol Hill 18:18

Share this episode 32:25

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 32:45

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/287

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 287 Guests: Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie and Bari Talente

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

Two years ago, the National MS Society made a public commitment to do more to ensure that the MS movement was open to and reflective of everyone affected by MS.

When you stop to consider issues like access to healthcare or MS clinical research, it quickly becomes apparent that diversity, equity, and inclusion aren't only organizational goals for the MS Society. They also address some of the systemic barriers that directly impact the quality of MS care for members of historically marginalized communities who are living with MS.

Joining me in exploring how the MS Society is embedding the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into every aspect of the MS movement is the National MS Society's Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Neisha Fredericks.

We're also sharing the details of research conducted at the University of Virginia that identified a specific contributor to the autoimmune response and neuroinflammation that characterize MS.

And we'll give you an up-close and personal illustration of how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact MS research and treatment.

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

This Week: Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the MS movement :22

Researchers identify a neuroinflammation "regulator" lurking in the gut microbiome 1:28

Artificial intelligence will have an impact on virtually every aspect of MS research and care 4:45

Neisha Fredericks, the National MS Society's Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, discusses the work that's taken place and the work still to be done to ensure that the MS movement is open to and reflective of everyone affected by MS 9:38

Share this episode 32:13

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 32:34

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/286

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: The Activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in T Cells Tunes the Gut Microenvironment to Sustain Autoimmunity and Neuroinflammation https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002000

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 286 Guest: Neisha Fredericks

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

Between 3 and 5% of the people living with MS are diagnosed before their sixteenth birthday. In many respects, pediatric MS is just like MS in adults. But it carries with it a distinct set of what I call social complications that can feel even more challenging to navigate than MS itself.

Just think back to the awkwardness of your pre-teen and teenage years. The pressures of school, friends, and dating are a lot for any kid to contend with. And that's without having to think about living with a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis.

Joining me for what I consider to be a masterclass in pediatric MS is Dr. Brenda Banwell. Dr. Banwell is Chief of the Division of Neurology and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and one of the foremost experts on pediatric MS in the world.

We're also sharing the details of very encouraging research that sheds new light, as well as provides new evidence, about primary progressive MS, suggesting a new pathway for future treatments.

We'll tell you about Healthy Aging in MS, the new clinical and research initiative at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.

And we'll share what the latest research is telling us when it comes to answering the question, "Should you discontinue your disease-modifying therapy once you turn 60?"

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

This Week: It's a masterclass in pediatric MS :22

Researchers take a major step forward in understanding and potentially treating primary progressive MS 2:01

University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School launches Healthy Aging in MS initiative 6:49

Is it safe to stop your disease-modifying therapy as you age? Here's what the latest research is telling us 8:58

Dr. Brenda Banwell takes us on a deep dive into pediatric-onset MS 13:05

Share this episode 37:05

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 37:25

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/285

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

STUDY: Cerebrospinal Fluid Immunoglobulins in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis are Pathogenic https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awad031/7024973

STUDY: Discontinuation of Disease-Modifying Therapy in MS Patients Over 60 Years Old and Its Impact on Relapse Rate and Disease Progression https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303846723000288

RealTalk MS Episode 255: Aging with MS with Dr. John Corboy https://realtalkms.com/255

PEDIATRIC MS RESOURCES:

National MS Society Information and Resources on Pediatric MS https://nationalmssociety.org/pediatricms

Oscar the MS Monkey In-Person Camp and Retreats for Kids with MS and Their Families https://mroscarmonkey.org

Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers https://usnpmsc.org

iConquer MS Kids & Teens https://kidsandteens.iconquerms.org/kidsandteens

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 285 Guest: Dr. Brenda Banwell

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

MS can sometimes feel isolating. And the ironic thing about those feelings of isolation is that you can experience them even when you're with other people. It's the feeling that, while everyone is being supportive, nobody really gets it. They've never experienced what it's like to actually live with MS. That's why connecting with others who are living with MS can be such a difference-maker.

My guests in this episode are Debby Bennett, the Manager of Community Engagement at the National MS Society, and Ricky Maxwell, an MS Society self-help group member and leader, and we're talking about how and where you can find support and connect with others who can better understand some of the things you might be going through.

We're also sharing the details of the National MS Society's latest $7.8 million dollar investment in new research projects aimed at stopping MS progression, restoring lost function, and ending MS forever.

We'll tell you about a study that revealed a link between sleep and cognitive issues among people living with MS.

You'll hear about the results of a study that showed how cognitive rehabilitation therapy and mindfulness might improve cognitive dysfunction for people with MS.

We'll tell you about this year's recipient of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research (and we'll explain what makes her such an outstanding choice!)

The National MS Society's 2023 Pathways to Wellness virtual program is just two days away! We'll tell you how and where you can still register for the event.

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

This Week: The value of connecting with others who are living with MS :22

The National MS Society invests $7.8 million in new research projects 1:49

Research reveals link between sleep and cognitive issues among people with MS 4:17

Study shows that cognitive rehabilitation therapy and mindfulness are effective in improving cognition among people with MS 6:58

Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie is this year's recipient of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research 9:42

The 2023 Pathways to Wellness virtual event is two days away 12:57

Debby Bennett and Ricky Maxwell discuss how and why you'll want to connect with others who are living with MS 14:43

Share this episode 27:09

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 27:30

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/284

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Research Summary: Fourteen New Research Projects Funded by the National MS Society https://nms2cdn.azureedge.net/cmssite/nationalmssociety/media/msnationalfiles/research/summaries-of-newly-funded-research-projects-january-2023.pdf

RealTalk MS Episode 238: The Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap with Dr. Carol Whitacre and Professor Alan Thompson https://realtalkms.com/238

STUDY: Pathways Between Multiple Sclerosis, Sleep Disorders, and Cognitive Function: Longitudinal Findings from the Nurses' Health Study https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/13524585221144215

RealTalk MS Episode 259: How Lack of Sleep Affects MS (And What You Can Do About It!) with Dr. Katie Siengsukon https://realtalkms.com/259

STUDY: Cognitive Rehabilitation and Mindfulness Reduce Cognitive Complaints in Multiple Sclerosis (REMIND-MS): A Randomized Controlled Trial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211034823000330

Pathways to Wellness: Emotional, Spiritual, and Social Wellness Virtual Program https://nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Library-Education-Programs/PathwaystoWellness

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 284 Guest: Faith Bigam

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS

Faith Bigam was diagnosed with MS in 2014, when she was 12 years old. She didn't know what MS was because, well, why would any 12-year-old kid know what MS is? But Faith quickly learned and just a year later, she had already become an Ambassador for the MS Society of Canada.

The initial years of Faith's MS journey weren't easy, and I'm not sure how someone of any age who had less resilience might have handled them. But I'm pretty sure that next to the word "resilience" in the dictionary you'll find a picture of Faith Bigam. And I promise you, there are some things about Faith that are going to surprise you.

The National MS Society's 2023 Pathways to Wellness virtual program takes place February 9th. We'll give you the details and tell you how to register for this free event.

You'll hear about L'Oreal's "smart" lipstick applicator. It's the first product in a line designed to make the task of putting on makeup accessible to people living with disabilities.

And we'll tell you what researchers discovered in a study that focused on analyzing the gut microbiome of young people living with pediatric MS.

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

This Week: Meet the embodiment of resilience and adaptability, Faith Bigam :22

Learn more and register for the 2023 Pathways to Wellness in MS virtual program 1:15

L'Oreal develops an adaptive lipstick application device (and why that matters!) 2:21

A research team analyzed the gut microbiome of young people living with pediatric MS 4:27

My conversation with Faith Bigam 7:56

Share this episode 31:07

Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 31:28

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/283

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 in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com

Pathways to Wellness: Emotional, Spiritual, and Social Wellness Virtual Program https://nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Library-Education-Programs/PathwaystoWellness

Metagenomic Analysis of the Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Gut Microbiome Explained https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2023/01/05/metagenomic-analysis-of-the-pediatric-onset-multiple-sclerosis-gut-microbiome-explained

STUDY: Metagenomic Analysis of the Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Gut Microbiome https://n.neurology.org/content/98/10/e1050

Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Devices https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200

Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Deviceshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk

Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

RealTalk MS Episode 283 Guest: Faith Bigam

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, RealTalkMS