My guest this week is Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Jack H. Skirball professor of Multiple Sclerosis Research. Dr. Voskuhl is responsible for first identifying that understanding the gender differences in the disease is an important part of understanding MS. This is one of my favorite interviews, and it's packed with great information.

Using cannabis to treat MS symptoms has become a hot topic. And thanks to social media, a lot of opinions about cannabis and MS are posted as if they're facts...and that's not always the case. So, we're talking about cannabis and MS in this episode of RealTalk MS. We'll try to demystify it a bit and we'll give you an idea of what some of the research is telling us. We'll talk about which MS symptoms cannabis might be good for...and which ones it might not be good for.    

We're also talking about the latest reason that your health insurance premium is likely to rise in 2019 in the U.S., we'll walk you through "Clinical Trials 101" and explain what each phase of a clinical trial is really all about, and we'll give you the latest update on Ocrevus being rejected as a treatment for PPMS in the U.K.

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

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U.S. Suspends Payments to Health Insurers  1:47

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Clinical Trials  8:25

Clinical Trial to Track Urinary Symptoms in MS Is Recruiting Participants  15:05

NICE Rejects Ocrevus for PPMS  16:47

Cannabis & MS  19:04

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LINKSIf your podcast app doesn’t show these links, you’ll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

U.S. Suspends Payments to Health Insurers

Become an MS Activist

National MS Society Brochure on Participating in a Clinical Trial

ClinicalTrials.gov

Sample Urinary Symptoms & MS Clinical Trial Survey

Cannabis Use in People with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A Web-Based Investigation

National MS Society Research Paper on Cannabis & MS

AAN Guidelines for Medical Marijuana

Real World Experience of Medical Marijuana in Symptomatic Management of Multiple Sclerosis and Transverse Myelitis

Cannabidiol to Improve Mobility in People with MS

Knowledge and Attitudes of Australian General Practitioners Towards Medicinal Cannabis: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

___________

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

RealTalk MS Episode 43 Hosted By: Jon Strum

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, Ocrevus, ACA, ProtectOurCare, MSActivist, CannabisandMS, Cannabis, RealTalkMS

Using cannabis to treat MS symptoms has become a hot topic. And thanks to social media, a lot of opinions about cannabis and MS are posted as if they're facts...and that's not always the case. So, we're talking about cannabis and MS in this episode of RealTalk MS. We'll try to demystify it a bit and we'll give you an idea of what some of the research is telling us. We'll talk about which MS symptoms cannabis might be good for...and which ones it might not be good for.

When you google the phrase "stem cell therapy for MS", it can feel like you fell into a black hole of conflicting information, misinformation, and dodgy information that can be full of promises designed to speak directly to someone who is anxiously and sometimes desperately looking for a miracle cure for a debilitating condition. And there's also plenty of good, credible information available online. But how do you go about separating the wheat from the chaff? We're going to try to jump start that process for you in this podcast episode, as we look at the current state of stem cell therapy & MS.

We're also discussing the latest news about Ocrevus, medical cannabis for MS, a clinical trial that's recruiting 900 people recently diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, a couple of new apps to help you manage MS, and a webinar about maintaining your independence with progressive MS.

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

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U.K. Approves Ocrevus for RRMS  2:12

MMJ Bioscience Seeks FDA Approval for Cannabis Phase II Clinical Trial  3:48

Biogen Adds MS & Cognition Resource Center to MyMSTeam  5:20

Biogen Releases Aby, an App for People Living with MS  6:30

Nationwide Clinical Trial Recruiting People Newly Diagnosed with MS  9:10

Roche & EAN Produces "Maintaining Independence in Progressive MS" Webinar  11:08

Stem Cell Therapy & MS  12:38

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LINKSIf your podcast app doesn’t show these links, you’ll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

MyMSTeam

TREAT-MS Clinical Trial

MS Society Brochure on Participating in a Clinical Trial

Maintaining Independence in Progressive MS Webinar

MS Society: Stem Cells in MS

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

RealTalk MS Episode 42 Hosted By: Jon Strum

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, Ocrevus, MyMSTeam, Biogen, Aby, HopkinsMedicine, ProgressiveMS, HSCT, RealTalkMS

 

When you google the phrase "stem cell therapy for MS", it can feel like you fell into a black hole of conflicting information, misinformation, and dodgy information. And there's also plenty of good, credible information available online. But how do you go about separating the wheat from the chaff? We're going to try to jump start that process for you in this podcast episode, as we look at the current state of stem cell therapy & MS.

We talk a lot about MS research.  And when we do, we talk about the "investigators"...the experts...the scientists in the laboratories who are expanding our collective knowledge about MS. But who are these folks? How do you become an "investigator"? And why does someone decide that they want to make MS research their professional focus?

My guest on the podcast is Dr. Elisabeth Mari, Director of Biomedical Research for the National MS Society. Dr. Mari takes us behind the scenes and walks us through the process of how someone becomes  an MS research fellow. Then, we'll talk with 3 MS research fellows that I met up with at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting. You'll hear about the projects that they're working on, and we'll talk about what initially attracted them to focus on MS research.   We're also talking about a new study that strengthens the link between Epstein-Barr Virus and MS, a biomarker that may indicate MS progression, a new Xbox adaptive controller for gamers with disabilities, and an opportunity for Hispanics and Latinos diagnosed with MS to participate in a clinical study.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS? ____________

Study Strengthens Link Between Epstein-Barr Virus & MS  3:29

Neurofilament Light Chain May Predict RRMS Progression  4:56

Microsoft Creates Xbox Adaptive Controller for Gamers with Disabilities  7:40

Perception of Fall Risk Can Be As Important as Physical Limitations to People Living with MS  9:14

USC is Recruiting Latinos/Hispanics with MS for Clinical Trial  12:16

Interview with National MS Society's Director of Biomedical Research, Dr. Elisabeth Mari  14:53

Meet 3 MS Research Fellows  25:52

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LINKSIf your podcast app doesn’t show these links, you’ll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

New Study Shows Connection Between Epstein-Barr Virus and MS Progression

Levels of Neurofilament Light Chain May Predict MS Progression (Abstract is on Page 24)

Pre-Order the Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller

The Relationship Between Physiological and Perceived Fall Risk in People Living with MS

Hispanics and Latinos with MS Are Being Recruited for a Clinical Trial

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

___________

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

RealTalk MS Episode 40 Guest: Dr. Elisabeth Mari Hosted By: Jon Strum

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, mssociety, EpsteinBarrEBV, Xbox, RealTalkMS

How and why does someone become an "MS investigator"? My guest is Dr. Elisabeth Mari, Director of Biomedical Research for the National MS Society. Dr. Mari walks us through the process of how someone becomes  an MS research fellow. Then, we'll talk to 3 MS research fellows and you'll hear about the projects that they're working on, and what initially attracted them to doing MS research.

We're also talking about new MS research, study outcomes, & clinical trial opportunities. We have a lot to talk about

MS Activist Marques Jones is running for public office in his home state of Virginia. Marques and I sat down to discuss how his role as an MS Activist led to his candidacy, and how his MS diagnosis has continued to inform his business life and his political life.      We're also talking about the existential threat that now exists for people with pre-existing medical conditions in the U.S., how the MSAA can provide financial assistance for your MRI exam, how Ocrevus may delay the need for a wheelchair for 7 years, and the first clinical trial that's been designed to recognize the needs of severely disabled MS patients.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS? ____________

The Trump Administration Has Asked a Federal Judge to Eliminate ACA Protections for People Living With Pre-Existing Conditions  1:30

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America Expands MRI Access Fund  9:32

Ocrevus May Delay the Need for a Wheelchair for 7 Years  10:47

Genentech Announces 1st Clinical Trial to Recognize Needs of Severely Disabled MS Patients  12:05

 

Interview with MS Activist and Virginia State Senate Candidate Marques Jones  14:53

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LINKSIf your podcast app doesn’t show these links, you’ll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

Legal Brief Filed in U.S. District Court by the National MS Society, American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association

Sign Up to Be an MS Activist

MSAA MRI Access Fund Details & Application

Ocrevus May Delay Need for a Wheelchair by 7 Years

First Clinical Trial to Recognize the Needs of Severely Disabled MS Patients

Marques Jones For Virginia Senate

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

___________

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

RealTalk MS Episode 40 Guest: Marques Jones Hosted By: Jon Strum

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, ProtectPatientsNow, MSActivist, MSAA, Ocrevus, NewPath, RealTalkMS

MS Activist Marques Jones is running for public office in his home state of Virginia. Marques and I sat down to discuss how his role as an MS Activist led to his candidacy, and how his MS diagnosis has continued to inform his business life and his political life.

We're also talking about the existential threat that now exists for people with pre-existing medical conditions in the U.S., how the MSAA can provide financial assistance for your MRI exam, and lots more!

Experts estimate that depression affects about 50% of the people diagnosed with MS.  And, left unchecked, depression can take your vibrant, colorful world and re-draw it in somber shades of gray. 

If there's good news about depression, it's that it can be treated.  In this special Vacation Edition of RealTalk MS, we're going to revisit a really important conversation that I had last November with Dr. Amy Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.  Dr. Sullivan shares some really important insights about living with MS and depression...and what to do about it if you are.