Shawn Feliciano was diagnosed with MS in 2009, and in 2012, she decided to challenge herself while raising awareness about MS by going on a Big Hike -- hiking 817 miles, from Utah to Arizona. Shawn's Big Hike may have been the perfect metaphor for living with the challenges of MS, and we're talking about having the resilience to take on a challenge, no matter what your personal Big Hike might be.

We're also talking about a new study that demonstrates why it's in your best interest to stay on MS Disease Modifying Therapy if you've been diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS. Another study suggests that a diet high in vegetables and fish may reduce the risk of MS. And a third study may provide a path for better mitigating MS depression. We even take a look at two very different short films about MS that, taken together, give us a full, 360-degree depiction of what it's like to live with MS.

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

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Study: RRMS Patients on Long-Term DMT Treatment Less Likely to Progrers to SPMS 1:08

Study: Diet High in Vegetables & Fish Reduces Risk of MS 5:20

Study: Treating Perceived Stress & Poor Sleep May Mitigate MS Depression 7:17

2 Short Films Take Different Paths to Illustrate the Challenges of Living With MS...And They're Both Right 10:30

Interview with Shawn Feliciano 14:13

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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

Onset of Secondary Progressive MS Is Not Influenced by Current Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Therapies

The International Progressive MS Alliance

A Healthy Dietary Pattern Associates with a Lower Risk of a First Clinical Diagnosis of CNS Demylenation

Perceived Cognitive Deficits & Depressive Symptoms In Patients with MS: Perceived Stress & Sleep Quality as Mediators

Short Film: Breakthrough MS

Short Film: Hidden

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RealTalk MS Episode 49 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Shawn Feliciano

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, BigHike, ShawnFeliciano, Hidden, MSDiet, RealTalkMS

Elizabeth Jameson is an artist who specializes in creating a bridge between art and neuroscience. Since being diagnosed with MS, Elizabeth has transformed her brain MRI scans into remarkable and provocative images that challenge how we view the brain, disability, and illness. In addition to creating her amazing artwork, Elizabeth is an ePatient Scholar and advisor to Stanford Medicine X, and she's written extensively about patient-centered healthcare, design, and the arts. This week, we're standing at the intersection of art and science with my special guest, Elizabeth Jameson, talking about being an ePatient, embracing our imperfect bodies, and the importance of developing a creative narrative about living with MS.

We're also talking about a new theory on the cause of MS, how artificial intelligence may change medical imaging to better detect MS, and how one doctor used a bogus MS treatment to cheat his MS patients and their insurance companies out of thousands of dollars.

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

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Researchers Offer a New Theory on the Cause OF MS :50

Australian Government Invests in AI Imaging Technique to Better Detect MS 5:54

A Doctor's Bogus MS Treatment Scams MS Patients and Their Insurance Companies 7:45

Market Research Company Recruiting People with Primary Progressive MS to Complete Paid Online Survey 14:19

Interview with Elizabeth Jameson 15:13

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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

Hypothesis: Multiple Sclerosis Is Caused By Three-Hits, Strictly In Order, In Genetically Susceptible Persons

Australian Government Invests in Artificial Intelligence for Medical Imaging

California Medical Board Legal Complaint Against Dr. Michael Arlata

Jameson Fine Art

VIDEO: Elizabeth Jameson at TedxStanford: Learning to Embrace Our Imperfect Bodies

Mind On Fire (Elizabeth Jameson's Blog)

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Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

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RealTalk MS Episode 48 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Elizabeth Jameson

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, AI, ElizabethJameson, RealTalkMS

You've heard the statistic before -- 50% of the people living with MS will be diagnosed with depression. And research has shown us that some of the most troubling MS symptoms, including fatigue, cognition, and even physical disability, are all made worse by depression.

Unfortunately, among people living with MS, depression is often overlooked, undiagnosed, and left to only get worse. So imagine an app that will tell you when you're heading toward depression before you even feel it. That's not science fiction -- it's science.

My guest is Peta Slocombe the Senior V.P. of Corporate Health at mental health technology company, Medibio. We're talking about how Medibio's game-changing technology can improve the quality of life for people living with MS.

We're also talking about iConquer MS -- a wide-ranging MS research community that's patient-focused, patient-managed, and patient-driven. Find out how you can be a part of iConquer MS and take an active role in unraveling the riddle of MS.

We'll tell you about about how and why your health insurance premium is going to increase, and how you can test-drive a smartphone app that will better personalize your MS treatment.

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

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Which Symptoms Matter Most to People Living with MS 1:43

You Can Participate in Patient-Centered MS Research with iConquer MS 3:29

Why New "Short Term" Insurance Rules Will Increase Your Health Insurance Premium 5:48

Test Drive an MS Smartphone App That Will Lead to Better Personalized MS Treatment 10:49

Interview with Peta Slocombe 12:07

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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

The Disease Burden of Multiple Sclerosis from the Individual and Population Perspective: Which Symptoms Matter Most?

iConquer MS

myMS App

Medibio

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RealTalk MS Episode 47 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Peta Slocombe

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, Medibio, Depression, RealTalkMS

We take advantage of digital tools every day to make our lives easier. But when it comes to managing our health, there's still a long way to go. That's why the MS Society in the UK commissioned a report titled "Improving Care for People with MS: The Potential of Data & Technology". That report has just been published, and we're discussing some of the observations and recommendations contained in this remarkable report with my special guest, Michelle Mitchell, CEO of the MS Society in the UK. We're also talking about a new artificial intelligence-based data analysis platform that can diagnose MS sooner than traditional diagnostic methods, with 90% accuracy. We'll tell you about a new poll that shows that the overwhelming majority of American voters support protecting the rights of people with pre-existing medical conditions, in spite of the Justice Department's efforts to remove those protections. We're taking a look at new research that could change the game when it comes to myelin repair. And we'll tell you about two different MS research studies that are recruiting participants to complete a 15-minute online survey. We have a lot to talk about. Are you ready for RealTalk MS? ___________

AI-Enabled Data Analysis Platform Can Diagnose MS 1:37

Latest Poll Shows Overwhelming Voter Support For Protecting Patients With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions in the U.S. 3:40

Groundbreaking Research Highlights Different Paths to Myelin Repair 7:24

2 Research Studies Recruiting Participants for Online Surveys 12:07

Interview with Michelle Mitchell 13:49

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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

iQuity

Friend of the Court 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

University of Melbourne Research Devising New Way to Repair Myelin

CWRU Research Demonstrates Blocking Cholesterol Enzyme Stimulates Myelin Repair

Study Opportunity: Coping Styles in MS & Other Autoimmune Diseases

Study Opportunity: Treatment Options For Walking Difficulties in MS

Improving Care for People with MS: The Potential of Data & Technology

MS Society of Great Britain

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

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RealTalk MS Episode 46 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Michelle Mitchell

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, iQuity, ProtectOurCare, mssocietyuk, nuffieldtrust, mscare, RealTalkMS

We take advantage of digital tools every day to make our lives easier. But when it comes to managing our health, there's still a long way to go. That's why the MS Society in the UK commissioned a report titled "Improving Care for People with MS: The Potential of Data & Technology". That report has just been published, and we're discussing some of the observations and recommendations contained in this remarkable report with my special guest, Michelle Mitchell, the CEO of the MS Society in the UK.

The caregiver's journey doesn't always get paid the proper amount of attention until a family caregiver finds themselves feeling isolated, overwhelmed, drained, and depressed. But it doesn't have to come to that. My guest is Dr. Kate Lorig, lead author of Building Better Caregivers: A Family Caregiver's Guide to Reducing Stress and Staying Healthy. And we're talking about how to go about building better caregivers. We're also talking about a new MRI technique that may enable doctors to identify MS patients who are at high risk of disease progression and disability, whether Tysabri can improve MS sexual dysfunction, a new film about how an "invisible disease" can impact everyday daily living, and a clinical trial that's looking at whether two popular "MS diets" can improve MS fatigue. We have a lot to talk about. Are you ready for RealTalk MS? ___________

MRI Technique Associates Iron in Brain with MS Disability 1:44

Tysabri May Be Effective in Treating MS Sexual Dysfunction 4:11

"Hidden" Shows How an Invisible Disease Can Impact Everyday Life 6:05

Clinical Trial to Look at Effectiveness of Diet in Improving MS Fatigue Is Recruiting Participants 8:08

Interview with Dr. Kate Lorig 10:24

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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

Brain Iron at Quantitative MRI Is Associated with Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

Patient Perceived Changes in Sexual Dysfunction after Initiation of Natalizumab for Multiple Sclerosis

Watch "Hidden" on YouTube

shift.ms

Clinical Trial to Test Dietary Approaches to Treating Fatigue in MS

Email Address for University of Iowa Diet & MS Fatigue Study is [email protected]

Building Better Caregivers: A Family Caregiver's to Reducing Stress & Staying Healthy

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

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RealTalk MS Episode 45 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Dr. Kate Lorig

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, tysabri, Hidden, shiftms, terrywahls, wahlsdiet, swankdiet, caregiving, UIowabiomed, RealTalkMS

The caregiver's journey doesn't always get paid the proper amount of attention until a family caregiver finds themselves feeling isolated, overwhelmed, drained, and depressed. But it doesn't have to come to that. My guest is Dr. Kate Lorig, lead author of "Building Better Caregivers: A Family Caregiver's Guide to Reducing Stress and Staying Healthy". And we're talking about how to go about building better caregivers.

My guest this week is Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, 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.

We're also talking about the potential of data and technology to improve care for people living with MS, how MS and depression can lead to high rates of Alexithymia among people living with MS, how recognizing non-traditional MS symptoms can lead to getting an MS diagnosis years earlier, and an opportunity for African-Americans with MS to participate in a UCSF study.

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

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MS + Depression or Anxiety = High Rates of Alexithymia 2:04

MS Society U.K. Commissions Report on the Potential of Data and Technology to Improve Care for People Living with MS 4:13

U.K.'s National Health Service Announces New App 9:18

Recognizing Non-Traditional Symptoms Can Lead to MS Diagnosis Years Earlier 11:34

UCSF Recruiting African-Americans with MS for Study 14:24

Interview with Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl 17:01

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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

International Progressive MS Alliance

High Levels of Alexithymia in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Improving Care for People with MS: The Potential of Data & Technology

New NHS App Will Make It Quciker & Easier to Access Health Services

Five Years Before MS Onset: Phenotyping the Prodrome

Email Address for UCSF Study is [email protected]

Give RealTalk MS a Rating & Review

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

RealTalk MS Episode 44 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guest: Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl

Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, ProgressiveMS, mssocietyuk, UCLANeurology, UCSFMedicine, RealTalkMS

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

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RealTalk MS Episode 43 Hosted By: Jon Strum

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