RealTalk MS

RealTalk MS

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RealTalk MS episodes

  • Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh

    A 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

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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 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

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    35 min
  • Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman

    Next 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: [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: 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

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    34 min
  • Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice

    For 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: [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

    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

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    48 min
  • Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger

    This 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: [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: 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

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    32 min
  • Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove

    Last 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: [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

    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

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

    May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is "My MS Diagnosis," and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, "You have MS."

    This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis.

    Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee.

    We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS.

    And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS.

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

    This Week: World MS Day! :22

    Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS 2:40

    Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS 4:34

    Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis 8:40

    Share this episode 28:51

    Next week 29:12

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/456

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [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

    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

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

    When we talk about managing Multiple Sclerosis, our conversations naturally focus on things like disease-modifying therapies, mobility, MRI scans, and symptom management. But in this week's episode, we're shining a light on a critical aspect of MS wellness that doesn't get nearly enough attention: your oral health.

    Living with MS can introduce a whole host of unexpected challenges to maintaining a healthy mouth. And beyond preventing tooth decay and gum disease, emerging research suggests that chronic oral inflammation, like periodontal disease, can trigger systemic inflammation throughout the body.

    Dr. Ann Spolarich joins us to break down the science, explain the risks, and offer practical suggestions for maintaining oral health for people living with MS and their care partners.

    We're also sharing study results that revealed 1,000 differences between immune cells in men and women. (And we're explaining why that's important)

    If you're a parent or caregiver for a child or teen with MS, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the FDA approval of Ocrevus for treating pediatric MS.

    We're sharing the details of an AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time.

    We're sharing the details of another AI partnership designed to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue.

    And we'll tell you about a way that you can participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

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

    This Week: The connection between your oral health and MS :22

    Study reveals 1,000 differences between men's and women's immune cells 1:30

    FDA approves Ocrevus for children over the age of 10 with relapsing remitting MS 3:28

    An AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time 5:43

    An AI partnership to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue 9:24

    An opportunity to participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home 13:16

    Dr. Ann Spolarich discusses the connection between your oral health and MS 13:16

    Share this episode 29:45

    Next week 30:05

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/455

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [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: The Impact of Sex on the Immune System Explored at the Single-Cell Level https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(26)00153-9

    ONLINE SURVEY: Bladder-Related Fall Risk in People with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/rs-bladder-fall-risk

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

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

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

    RealTalk MS Episode 455 Guest: Dr. Ann Spolarich

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

    One out of every two people with MS will experience clinical depression at some point in their MS journey, making depression one of the most significant yet under-discussed aspects of living with MS. While the physical symptoms of MS often take center stage, the neuropsychiatric challenges can be just as impactful on an individual's overall quality of life and long-term outcomes.

    Joining us to shed some light on this important topic is Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a world-renowned neuropsychiatrist and professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Feinstein has spent decades researching the biological and psychological drivers of depression in MS.

    We're also sharing study results revealing that wait times to see a neurologist in the U.S. are way too long.

    We'll tell you about a pilot trial that's recruiting participants for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination.

    We're just two days away from the National MS Society's webcast on protecting federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA. We're sharing all the details and info to register.

    And we'll tell you all about the MS Society's statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare.

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

    This Week: Managing MS-Related Depression :22

    Study results reveal wait times for an appointment with a neurologist in the U.S. 1:45

    A pilot clinical trial for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination 4:38

    A webcast to update you on the National MS Society's advocacy efforts to protect federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA 7:05

    The National MS Society has submitted a critical statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare 8:39

    Dr. Anthony Feinstein discusses the latest research and strategies for managing MS-related depression 11:00

    Share this episode 29:37

    Next week 28:56

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/454

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [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: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520

    STUDY RESULTS: Neurology Wait Times After Primary Care or Emergency Department Visits Among the Commercially Insured Population in the United States: 2019-2023 https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218008

    CLINICAL TRIAL: The SetPoint System as a Pro-Remyelination Therapy for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06796504

    WEBCAST: Make It Count Now: Mobilizing for Federal Funding in a Changing Policy Landscape https://nmss.quorum.us/event/33151

    READ: The National MS Society Statement for The Record: "Profits Over Patients: The PBM Business Model Under Scrutiny" https://cdn.sanity.io/files/y936aps5/production/0372d3964cc269a404c17dff8ca919b34d0c6603.pdf

    AbleNOW https://ablenow.com

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

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

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

    RealTalk MS Episode 454 Guest: Dr. Anthony Feinstein

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    31 min
  • Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove

    For decades, an MS diagnosis came with outdated advice and significant uncertainty regarding starting a family. Today, the conversation has shifted from "Is it possible?" to "How do we optimize the journey?" This week, we're taking a deep dive into the essential considerations for family planning, managing MS during pregnancy, and the crucial postpartum period.

    We're joined by Dr. Riley Bove, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a leading expert in hormonal influences on MS. Dr. Bove brings her extensive research background and clinical expertise to help us understand how to navigate disease-modifying therapies while planning a family, the biological shifts that occur during pregnancy, and how to build a robust support system for the "fourth trimester."

    We're also sharing study results that provide some optimistic news for people experiencing MS-related depression.

    We'll tell you about a study that explains the actual changes in the immune system that occur when someone with MS exercises.

    If you get your health insurance on the Affordable Care Act online marketplace, we'll explain why health economists feel certain that your premiums will be going up again next year.

    And we're also sharing some sobering research that highlights systemic inequities that prevent people with MS who rely on Medicaid from accessing high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

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

    This Week: MS and family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum :22

    STUDY: High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies are not available to all Medicaid recipients 1:08

    Millions have failed to renew their ACA individual health insurance plans 5:05

    STUDY: Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves MS-related depression 9:32

    STUDY: Researchers identify the biological mechanisms that are impacted when people with MS exercise 11:29

    Dr. Riley Bove discusses family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum issues that affect women with MS 14:48

    Share this episode 35:31

    Next week 35:50

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/453

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [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: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520

    STUDY: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2026/04170/effectivess_of_cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for.27.aspx

    STUDY: Physical Exercise Modulates T Cell Activity and Mitigates Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Through Vagus Nerve Engagement https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159126002710

    UCSF Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA) https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT06940323

    AbleNOW https://ablenow.com

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

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

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

    RealTalk MS Episode 453 Guest: Dr. Riley Bove

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

    Myelin repair is a natural function. But, for people living with MS, that ability to repair myelin eventually stops working. New research led by my guest, Dr. Larry Sherman, may explain why that happens and point to new possibilities for future myelin repair treatments.

    Dr. Sherman is a professor at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, and his research focuses on how the brain and spinal cord respond to injury and disease, particularly in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

    We're also sharing some potentially good news for people living with non-relapsing secondary progressive MS in Europe, but not in the United States.

    We'll give you the details about an experimental drug that's just been submitted to the FDA and EMA for approval for treating relapsing forms of MS and primary progressive MS.

    We'll share the results of a study that focused on the impact of a cancer diagnosis on MS care.

    We'll tell you how Fernando Mendoza celebrated being named the #1 pick in this year's NFL draft.

    And we're sharing news about a new AI tool for your doctor.

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

    This Week: Why myelin repair stops working for people living with MS :22

    EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommends approval of Tolebrutinib 1:35

    Roche submits Fenebrutinib for FDA and EMA approval 4:45

    Study results show the effect of a cancer diagnosis on MS care 6:13

    The first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza, partners with the National MS Society to launch the Mendoza Family Fund 9:43

    OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Clinicians 10:56

    Dr. Larry Sherman discusses why myelin repair stops working for people with MS, and how his team may have found a way to restart it 14:37

    Share this episode 27:59

    Next week 28:19

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/452

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

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    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 440: An MS Specialist Responds to the FDA with Dr. William Conte https://realtalkms.com/440

    STUDY: Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261437966

    STUDY (Plain English Version): Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/04/23/impact-of-cancer-on-multiple-sclerosis-related-healthcare-and-disease-modifying-drug-use-a-multinational-cohort-study-explained

    DONATE: The Mendoza Family Fund (in Partnership with the National MS Society) https://nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/mendoza

    LEARN MORE: ChatGPT For Clinicians https://chatgpt.com/plans/clinicians

    AbleNOW https://ablenow.com

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

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

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

    RealTalk MS Episode 452 Guest: Dr. Larry Sherman

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    30 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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