RealTalk MS

As researchers continue to learn about MS, it becomes clear that you can change the trajectory of your MS journey and improve your quality of life by making smart lifestyle choices. Quitting smoking and watching your alcohol and caffeine consumption are smart choices for everyone, and they can pay especially big dividends if you're living with MS. This week, Dr. Barbara Giesser discusses how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine can impact your MS. We're also sharing the details about the Black MS Experience Summit taking place on November 12th, and the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit taking place on November 19th. We'll tell you about a study that revealed what may be a novel way of stimulating remyelination. You'll meet Dr. Arman Eshaghi and hear about how artificial intelligence may impact your future MRI exam. We'll share study results that show that carbohydrate consumption may increase the risk of an individual developing MS. And we'll tell you about a study that looked at the connection between starting a disease-modifying therapy early and quality of life related to cognitive function and fatigue. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: What you need to know about how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine impact your MS :22 The Black MS Experience Summit is TOMORROW! 1:32 The National MS Society is hosting the Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit on Nov 19th 2:33 Study results indicate the path to myelin repair may require subtraction, not addition 3:04 Dr. Arman Eshaghi discusses how AI may change how MRI scans are interpreted 5:12 Study results show a connection between carbohydrate intake and MS risk 15:10 Study results show how starting a DMT early impacts quality of life related to cognitive function and fatigue among people with MS 17:55 Dr. Barbara Giesser discusses how smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming caffeine impact people living with MS 21:38 Share this episode 31:07 Next week's episode 31:27 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/428 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Online Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy WATCH: The RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on YouTube https://realtalkms.com/ectrims2025 STUDY: Gt2fi-Encoded Transcription Factor Tfii-i Regulates Myelin Via Sox10 and Mbp Regulatory Elements https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63500-4 STUDY: Association Between Dietary Carbohydrate Intake and Multiple Sclerosis Risk: A Large-Scale Cohort Study https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1654538/full STUDY: Self-Reported Quality of Life Related to Cognitive Function and Fatigue in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211034825005516 REGISTER: The Black MS Experience Summit https://nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/education-programs-and-library/black-ms-experience REGISTER: The Hispanic LatinX MS Experience Summit https://nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/education-programs-and-library/hispanic-latinx-ms-experience JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook...

When you're living with a chronic condition like MS, you want to be sure you're doing everything you can to preserve and promote good health. And, right now, you may be feeling confused about whether you should be getting vaccinated, and which vaccines are safe. It's understandable. Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusing information about vaccines and vaccinations floating around out there. This week, Dr. Lisa Doggett helps us get past all the unnecessary noise and hysteria and reviews the science-based vaccine recommendations for people living with MS. We're also talking about the historic meeting that took place last week between the FDA and people affected by MS. We're sharing dramatic results from the largest study of its kind that measured the true impact of MS on quality of life. And we're giving you all the details about the National MS Society's upcoming Black MS Experience Summit. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Reliable, science-based vaccine guidance for people living with MS :22 An historic meeting between the FDA and the MS community 1:17 The largest study of its kind shows the true impact of MS on quality of life 3:13 The National MS Society is hosting the Black MS Experience Summit on Nov 12th 4:40 Dr. Lisa Doggett covers everything you need to know about vaccines and MS 6:22 Share this episode 26:10 Next week's episode 26:30 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/427 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Online Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy WATCH: The RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on YouTube https://realtalkms.com/ectrims2025 STUDY: EQ-5D-5L In Multiple Sclerosis: Estimated Utility Values, Minimal (Clinically) Important Changes, and Direct and Indirect Influences Over Time https://valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(25)02486-6/fulltext REGISTER: The Black MS Experience Summit https://nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/education-programs-and-library/black-ms-experience 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 Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 427 Guests: Dr. Lisa Doggett Privacy Policy

Some disease-modifying therapies can change the trajectory of your MS journey. But gaining access to those medications isn't always as easy or straightforward as it should be. In the United States, insurance companies are most often the gatekeepers to prescription medications. This week, Cassandra Ashby shares a story that many of you may already be too familiar with, as she takes us through her family's long, hard, and confusing struggle to get the DMT that her newly-diagnosed daughter's neurologist prescribed. I We're also talking about the game-changing results of a study that demonstrate MS-related damage to the brain occurs years before the very first symptom becomes apparent. And we're explaining why this opens the door to treatment that may stop MS symptoms from even developing. We're giving you a heads-up about changes to the way health records for MS patients are being coded, and how these changes are already creating obstacles to accessing the disease-modifying therapy that you may have been taking for months or years. And we're reminding you that you still have time to register to participate virtually in tomorrow's historic meeting between people with MS and the FDA We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The sometimes overwhelming challenge of gaining access to the disease-modifying therapy that's been prescribed by your MS Specialist :22 Study results demonstrate MS-related brain damage occurs years before MS symptoms 1:22 What are ICD-10 codes, and why do the latest changes to these codes pose potential challenges for people living with MS? 5:52 You can participate virtually in tomorrow's meeting between people with MS and the FDA 9:23 Cassandra Ashby shares her family's long, hard, and confusing struggle with their insurance company 10:56 Share this episode 31:06 Next week's episode 31:26 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/426 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Myelin Injury Precedes Axonal Injury and Symptomatic Onset in Multiple Sclerosis https://nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04014-w WATCH: The RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on YouTube https://realtalkms.com/ectrims2025 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 Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 426 Guests: Cassandra Ashby Privacy Policy

Just about a month ago, 9,600 researchers, clinicians, and representatives from patient advocacy organizations gathered in Barcelona for the European Committee on Treatment and Research in MS annual scientific congress, better known as ECTRIMS, the largest MS research conference in the world. Now that he's had an opportunity to review his notes and digest all of the science presented at ECTRIMS 2025, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the National MS Society's Executive Vice-President of Research, returns to the podcast to take us on a deep dive covering some of the most important research presented this year. We're also talking about next-generation CAR T-cell therapy for MS, and we'll explain why it's such exciting news. We're sharing details about a DNA-based therapy for overactive bladder that just received fast-track status from the FDA. We'll tell you about a new effort to develop a simple blood test that will detect MS progression. We have some news to share about the RealTalk MS app. And we want to remind you to check out our ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on the RealTalk MS YouTube channel! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A deep dive into the research presented at ECTRIMS 2025 :22 Kernal Biologics received $48 million grant for the next-generation CAR T-Cell therapy 2:35 FDA grants fast track designation to DNA-based therapy to treat overactive bladder 6:02 Octave Bioscience receives grant to develop a blood test to detect MS progression 8:30 News about our app 9:42 Have you checked out our ECTRIMS Extra Conversations YouTube playlist? 10:30 Dr. Bruce Bebo discusses some of the most important research presented at ECTRIMS 2025 11:06 Share this episode 32:26 Next week's episode 32:47 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/425 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy LISTEN: RealTalk MS Ep 422: From ECTRIMS 2025 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug https://realtalkms.com/422 WATCH: The RealTalk MS ECTRIMS Extra Conversations video playlist on YouTube https://realtalkms.com/ectrims2025 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 Devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk REVIEW: 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 425 Guests: Dr. Bruce Bebo Privacy Policy

Jan Janisch-Hanzlik lives with MS and is a participant in one of the clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for MS. Jan is the first person in the world to receive this one-and-done treatment, and this week, she's joining me to share her experience participating in the clinical trial. But you'll be especially interested in hearing how CAR-T cell therapy has impacted Jan's MS. Open enrollment for people with Medicare and for those who get their health insurance through the ACA healthcare.gov Marketplace begins this week, and we're talking about some of the reasons you want to pay particular attention to your 2026 health insurance options. As the U.S. federal government shutdown enters its third week, we're reviewing some of the ways that the shutdown may affect someone living with MS. And we're giving you a reminder about how you can add your voice and share your story of living with MS with the FDA by participating in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A first-hand account of an important clinical trial, open enrollment begins, and how the government shutdown may affect people with MS :22 Open enrollment for Medicare and Marketplace enrolees begins :22 How the federal government shutdown could affect people living with MS 4:29 Your opportunity to tell the FDA what it's like to live with MS 8:57 Jan Janisch-Hanzlik shares her experience participating in a CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial, and how the treatment has impacted her MS 11:28 Share this episode 31:38 Next week's episode 31:57 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/424 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy 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 Devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk REVIEW: 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 424 Guest: Jan Janisch-Hanzlik Privacy Policy

Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. In today's episode, we're exploring the risks and rewards of participating in a clinical trial with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Mimi Brown. Dr. Zackowski is the Associate Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, and she's going to offer an overview of the risks and benefits that you'll want to weigh in considering participating in a clinical trial. Mimi Brown lives with primary progressive MS, and Mimi is going to share her own experience as a participant in multiple clinical trials. This special episode of RealTalk MS has been made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. Sanofi has two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in MS studying Frexalimab, an investigational second-generation anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody. If you are interested in learning more about these clinical trials, please visit SanofiStudies.com SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/ct2 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: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! Privacy Policy

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with MS have been justifiably concerned about how a COVID-19 infection might impact their MS. As the new "Stratus" strain of COVID-19 is currently surging in the United States, research is providing answers we didn't have five years ago. Dr. Robert Fox, the Managing Director of the NARCOMS Patient Registry, joins me to discuss how COVID-19 infections and other infections impact people with MS. As ECTRIMS, the world's largest MS research conference, approached, many attendees anticipated the FDA's decision on whether to approve Tolebrutinib, the first in a new category of disease-modifying therapies. Instead, the FDA has requested additional time for its review. We'll fill you in on the FDA's new target action date, and explain why there's strong interest in this particular disease-modifying therapy. We know there's a specific gene that increases the risk of someone developing MS. But have you ever wondered where that gene came from, or why it exists at all? At ECTRIMS, Professor Lars Fugger took us on a journey 5,000 years into the past to explain its origin. When I spoke with him, Professor Fugger also explained how events from ancient history are still affecting the risk of developing MS today. You won't want to miss this compelling conversation! At ECTRIMS, I also caught up with Jason Tardio, the President, and Dr. Andreas Muehler, the Chief Medical Officer, from Immunic Therapeutics. We talked about how their investigative drug, vidofludimus calcium, could potentially benefit people with MS by combating inflammation, protecting the nervous system, and offering antiviral benefits. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Infections and MS, and more from ECTRIMS 2025! :22 FDA extends its review of Tolebrutinib 1:42 From ECTRIMS: Professor Lars Fugger discusses the origin of the gene that increases an individual's risk of developing MS 4:11 From ECTRIMS: Jason Tardio, President, and Dr. Andreas Muehler, Chief Medical Officer, at Immunic Therapeutics, discuss how vidofludimus calcium could potentially benefit people with MS 11:22 Dr. Robert Fox discusses what the research reveals about how COVID-19 infections and other infections impact people living with MS 16:34 Share this episode 32:00 Next week's episode 32:19 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/423 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy 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 Devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk REVIEW: 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 423 Guests: Professor Lars Fugger, Jason Tardio, Dr. Andreas...

Last week, over 9600 MS researchers and clinicians gathered in Barcelona for the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual scientific congress -- ECTRIMS 2025. Minutes after the conference adjourned, in what has become an annual tradition, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, joined me to share his initial thoughts on the science presented at the meeting. Then, Kristine Werner Ozug, a member of the RealTalk MS team who lives with MS, joined me to share her perspective on three non-stop days of presentations, news, and announcements. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: It's all about ECTRIMS 2025! :22 The Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society, Dr. Bruce Bebo, shares his initial impressions of ECTRIMS 2025 1:17 As someone who lives with MS, Kristine Werner Ozug shares her thoughts on ECTRIMS 2025 10:03 Share this episode 22:30 Next week's episode 22:50 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/422 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy 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 Devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk REVIEW: 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 422 Guests: Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug Privacy Policy

Happy birthday to us! RealTalk MS is 8 years old today! It's hard for me to believe that the podcast I launched in 2017, with the goal of one day reaching 300 listeners, today reaches thousands of people living with MS, their care partners, MS researchers, and clinicians in more than 100 countries. So, let me start this week's show notes with a profound thank you to each of you for being an important part of the RealTalk MS listener community. Your ongoing engagement is a constant reminder that our podcast is a two-way conversation. And I'm looking forward to continuing the conversation until we can talk about MS in the past tense. MS can affect memory, attention, and processing speed. But proactive strategies can help preserve your cognitive function and quality of life. Erin Wilkinson, a nurse practitioner in the Multiple Sclerosis Department of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, is joining me to help us better understand the relationship between MS and brain health and to share strategies for preserving and even improving brain health. You'll also meet Jan Bonville, a consultant, speaker, writer, and advocate for inclusive travel and patient empowerment. Jan has lived with MS for twenty years, and our conversation focused on resilience, empowerment, and self-advocacy. As you will hear, these are things that Jan lives every day. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Happy birthday to us and greetings from ECTRIMS! :22 MS advocate Jan Bonville discusses resilience, empowerment, and self-advocacy 4:40 Nurse Practitioner Erin Wilkinson shares strategies for optimizing your brain health 23:03 Share this episode 41:01 Next week's episode 41:21 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/421 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 416: The Updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS with Dr. Andrew Solomon https://realtalkms.com/416 VIDEO: Dr. Robert Fox explains the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib and Non-relapsing secondary progressive MS https://youtube.com/watch?v=tJQ93qdlXrU 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 Devices https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk REVIEW: 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 421 Guests: Jan Bonville and NP Erin Wilkinson Privacy Policy

You're living with MS, and maybe you're thinking about participating in an MS clinical trial. But how do they work? Are they safe? What's the difference between Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials? What are the real patient risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial? In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're getting answers to those questions and so much more from my guest, Dr. Aaron Boster. Dr. Boster is the founder of the Boster Center for Multiple Sclerosis in Columbus, Ohio, where he brings over 20 years of experience as an MS clinician. Dr. Boster has also participated in more than 65 clinical trials. This special episode of RealTalk MS has been made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. Sanofi has two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in MS studying Frexalimab, an investigational second-generation anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody. If you are interested in learning more about these clinical trials, please visit SanofiStudies.com SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/ct1 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: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! Privacy Policy

Disease-modifying therapies are the cornerstone of MS treatment, but they're not the only piece of the puzzle. Beyond prescription medications, self-care that includes making healthy lifestyle choices can significantly improve your quality of life with MS. Julie Polisena knows this firsthand. Julie lives with MS, and in a recent blog post, she shared a comprehensive list of the lifestyle changes that have improved her quality of life with MS. Julie joins us today to discuss some of the most impactful changes you can make to start your own journey toward better health and wellness. We're also diving into the science behind some of the most talked-about diets for MS. We're breaking down the research on the Mediterranean diet, the Keto diet, the Wahls Diet, the Swank Diet, a gluten-free diet, and intermittent fasting, giving you an overview of the studies that have measured their impact on MS. We're discussing the latest developments in the ongoing scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). There's significant pending legal action and a congressional investigation targeting PBMs, the powerful and secretive middlemen in the prescription drug supply chain. And we'll tell you how they've profited at the expense of millions of people with chronic illnesses, including people living with MS. We'll tell you about a clinical trial that's testing an injectable formulation of Briumvi. You'll hear about a promising new strategy for myelin repair. And we'll remind you about a warning from the FDA and Health Canada about glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A DIY approach to improving your MS journey :22 A roundup of studies that focused on popular diets for people with MS 1:53 Congress and the FTC have pharmacy benefit managers in their sites 7:32 TG Therapeutics is testing an injectable form of Briumvi 9:32 A research team has developed a novel remyelination strategy 11:03 A warning about glatiramer acetate has been issued 14:08 Julie Polisena discusses lifestyle changes that can make a difference in your quality of life 16:58 Share this episode 33:24 Next week's episode 33:43 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/420 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy READ: Small Changes, Big Impact: Managing My MS Through Lifestyle Changes https://mscanada.ca/find-support/blog/small-changes-big-impact-managing-my-ms-through-lifestyle-change STUDY: The Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Modulating Disease Progression and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis https://mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/16/2713 STUDY: Transient Gene Melting Governs the Timing of Oligodendrocyte Maturation https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009286742500861X REVIEW: Copaxone, Glatopa (Glatiramer Acetate) FDA Drug Safety Communication https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/copaxone-glatopa-glatiramer-acetate-drug-safety-communication-fda-adds-boxed-warning-about-rare JOIN: The RealTalk MS...

Some people living with MS adhere to a treatment plan based exclusively on what we might consider traditional medicine. Others opt for alternative treatments. And, still, others take a whole-person health approach, blending integrative medicine with traditional treatments designed to support an individual's mind and body. Dr. Lynne Shinto joins me to discuss how a whole-person health approach can transform living with MS. Dr. Shinto is a Professor of Neurology and an MS Specialist at the Center for Women's Health at Oregon Health and Science University. We're also sharing some encouraging news about funding for the National Institutes of Health in 2026. We'll explain the research that has led to the identification of a new and quite different subtype of MS. We'll tell you about this year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis. The National MS Society's virtual program, New to MS: Navigating Your Journey, takes place in just two days. We have all the details! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A whole-person health approach to MS care :22 House Republicans reject President Trump's $20 billion cut to 2026 NIH funding 1:26 Have researchers identified a new MS subtype? 4:16 This year's winner of the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis 8:27 We're two days away from the National MS Society's New to MS: Navigating Your Journey virtual program 9:53 Dr. Lynne Shinto discusses how taking a whole-person approach to MS care can transform your MS journey 12:04 Share this episode 31:41 Next week's episode 32:01 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/419 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 SIGN UP: Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Large-Scale Online Assessment Uncovers a Distinct Multiple Sclerosis Subtype with Selective Cognitive Impairment https://nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62156-4 REGISTER: New To MS: Navigating Your Journey https://nationalmssociety.org/understanding-ms/newly-diagnosed/new-to-ms-journey 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 Devices https://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 419 Guest: Dr. Lynne Shinto Privacy Policy

Living with MS means living with uncertainty, possible physical disability or cognitive dysfunction, bouts of crushing fatigue, mood changes, and let's not forget the very real irritation of well-meaning people telling you how healthy you look. Just processing the world around you can feel challenging. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Miriam Franco joins me to discuss how developing a growth mindset can make all the difference in how you experience your MS journey. We're also sharing a real-world example of how the drastic cuts in federal funding are already impacting MS care. We'll tell you about the first country in the world to approve Tolebrutinib, a new disease-modifying therapy for nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS. And we'll explain why people are particularly excited about this medication. We'll share details about the MS Clinical Imaging and Data Resource that's been launched by the International Progressive MS Alliance. We'll tell you how and where to catch the MS Standup Comedy Benefit next Monday in New York. And we're reminding you about your opportunity to impact future MS therapies by helping the FDA better understand what living with MS is really like. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Developing a growth mindset :22 How those federal research funding cuts are impacting MS patient care 1:30 United Arab Emirates becomes the first country in the world to approve Tolebrutinib for nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS 5:05 The International Progressive MS Alliance launches an MS Clinical Imaging and Data Resource open to the MS research community 8:32 The MS Standup Comedy Benefit takes place next Monday in New York 10:15 Add your voice and participate in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative 11:04 Dr. Miriam Franco discusses what it means to have a growth mindset when you're living with MS 14:50 Share this episode 34:11 Next week's episode 34:31 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/418 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 VIDEO: Dr. Robert Fox, Principal Investigator in the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Secondary Progressive MS https://youtu.be/tJQ93qdlXrU?si=S5jREy5ixVcE7ol- VIDEO: Dr. Jiwon Oh, Principal Investigator in the Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Tolebrutinib and Relapsing-Remitting MS https://youtu.be/zcBmAHRTotA?si=n86KRjB9Xt9sdZMg The International Progressive MS Alliance Clinical Imaging and Data Resource https://progressivemsalliance.org/ms-clinical-and-imaging-data-resource ATTEND: MS Stand-Up Comedy Benefit https://msstandup.org 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 Devices https://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...

If you've watched the critically acclaimed series, House of Cards, on Netflix, or the OCD detective series, Monk, on the USA Network, you've already listened to some of five-time Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal's work. This week, Jeff joins me to discuss his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS. We're also sharing all the details about the free event taking place at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, on September 1, when Jeff joins conductor Leonard Slatkin and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a free concert featuring three of Jeff's works, including a world premiere! We're also explaining a newly introduced AI-based model of MS that replaces the MS subtypes (relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive) with a continuum that tracks four different states. We'll tell you about a study that identified specific gut bacteria that may determine whether an individual is susceptible to MS. And we'll share the details of a study that identified the first genetic marker that can accurately predict how someone will respond to a disease-modifying therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal discusses his work and his MS journey :22 An AI-based model of MS 1:18 A study identifies specific gut bacteria that may be linked to MS susceptibility 4:49 A study identifies the first genetic marker for accurately predicting an individual's response to MS treatment 6:29 Composer Jeff Beal discusses his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS 9:57 Share this episode 30:36 Coming next week 30:56 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/417 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 ATTEND: Music + The Body https://realtalkms.com/musicandthebody An AI-Driven Reclassification of Multiple Sclerosis Progression https://nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03901-6 STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis and Gut Microbiota: Lachnospiraceae From the Ileum of MS Twins Trigger MS-Like Disease in Germfree Transgenic Mice -- An Unbiased Functional Study https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419689122 PARTICIPATE: International MS Microbiome Study https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/other-studies/international-ms-microbiome STUDY: HLA-A*03:01 As Predictive Genetic Biomarker for Glatiramer Acetate Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00317-2/fulltext 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 Devices https://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 417 Guest: Jeff...

Since 2001, clinicians have relied on the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria as the gold standard for diagnosing someone with multiple sclerosis. As science continues to add to our understanding of MS, the McDonald Criteria have been updated in 2005, 2010, 2017, and most recently in 2024. This latest iteration of the McDonald criteria will be published in September, and today, Dr. Andrew Solomon is giving us a preview of what these changes are, what they mean, and how they're going to improve the process of diagnosing someone with MS. We'll also share results of a study that show MS may actually start 15 years before someone experiences their first MS symptom. We'll tell you about a study that shows a decline in the number of people with MS who are progressing to secondary progressive MS. We'll give you all the details so you can participate in the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative with the FDA. And we'll remind you that Burgers to Beat MS Day is just two days away! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Updated criteria for diagnosing MS :22 Study results show that MS actually starts many years before the first symptom 1:21 Study shows a decline in the number of people progressing to secondary progressive MS 7:40 A unique opportunity for you to impact future treatments and share your experience of living with MS with the FDA 9:51 We're just 2 days away from Burgers to Beat MS Day! 13:06 Dr. Andrew Solomon shares a preview of the updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS 14:40 Share this episode 26:20 Coming next week 26:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/416 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 PARTICIPATE: Take the Shaping Tomorrow Together Survey https://s.alchemer.com/s3/Perspectives-on-MS REGISTER: Attend the virtual Shaping Tomorrow Together meeting with the FDA https://nmss.quorum.us/event/25463 STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2837128 STUDY: Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset (PLAIN ENGLISH VERSION) https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/healthcare-use-before-multiple-sclerosis-symptom-onset-explained STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis From Onset to Secondary Progression: A 30-Year Italian Register Study https://researchgate.net/publication/392714813_Multiple_sclerosis_from_onset_to_secondary_progression_a_30-year_Italian_register_study DONATE: Burgers To Beat MS https://burgerstobeatms.ca 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 Devices https://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 416 Guest: Dr. Andrew Solomon Privacy Policy

Living with MS is expensive. Very expensive. It's estimated that the average cost of living with MS is over $88,000 per year. How, in the midst of financial stress and uncertainty, can you formulate a financial plan that takes MS into account? Paula Cole lives with MS, and she also lives with a lot of financial planning savvy. Paula joins the podcast to share tips and strategies for establishing a personal financial plan for you and your family -- even while you're coping with MS. And Beth Scott, the director of case management at the Patient Advocate Foundation, joins us to explain how you can take advantage of work incentive programs that allow an individual to keep working or even try returning to work while they're receiving Social Security Disability cash benefits. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Ways to earn and hold onto more money when you're living with MS :22 Beth Scott explains how you can benefit from work incentive programs while you're receiving Social Security Disability cash benefits :35 Paula Cole shares tips and strategies for establishing a personal financial plan for you and your family when you're living with MS 12:48 Share this episode 27:47 Next Week: The new criteria for diagnosing MS 28:07 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/415 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy 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 Devices https://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 415 Guests: Beth Scott, Paula Cole Privacy Policy

Living with MS has always meant living with uncertainty. Left unchecked, that uncertainty can lead to anxiety, which can make your MS symptoms feel worse. This week, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Andrea Arzt, joins me to share tips and strategies for finding peace in the midst of uncertainty. You'll also meet the CEO of the MS International Federation, Dr. Lydia Makaroff. And you'll hear how artist Gordon Keith is combining his art with philanthropy in support of MS Canada. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Finding peace during uncertain times :22 Dr. Lydia Makaroff discusses the work that the MS International Federation is involved in on behalf of the global MS community :58 Gordon Keith discusses his life as an artist and how he's using his art to raise funds for MS Canada 10:43 Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Andrea Arzt, offers strategies for finding peace of mind while facing uncertainty 21:40 Share this episode 32:12 Next Week: It's all about the money! 32:32 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/414 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy 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 Devices https://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 414 Guests: Dr. Lydia Makaroff, Gordon Keith, and Andrea Arzt Privacy Policy

We're witnessing the early stages of a paradigm shift, as artificial intelligence is beginning to impact virtually every aspect of healthcare, from research to patient care. And there's much, much more to come. This week, Dr. Brad Willingham, the Director of MS Research at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, joins me to discuss how AI will impact MS patient care. We'll also share the encouraging results from a Phase 2 open-label extension study for Fenebrutinib, an investigational disease-modifying therapy. We'll tell you about study results that show exercise interventions that follow physical activity guidelines for MS can have a significant impact on MS-related depression. And we're sharing the results of a study that illustrate what can happen when you delay starting a disease-modifying therapy. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: How AI will impact MS patient care :22 Fenebrutinib shows positive results after one-year extension study 1:33 MS-related depression can be significantly eased through exercise intervention that follows physical activity guidelines for MS 3:36 What happens when you delay starting disease-modifying therapy? 8:46 Dr. Brad Willingham discusses how artificial intelligence is impacting all aspects of healthcare 14:29 Share this episode 33:18 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 33:38 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/413 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Safety and Efficacy of Fenebrutinib in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FENopta): A Multicentre, Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial and Open-Label Extension https://thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(25)00174-7/abstract?rss=yes STUDY: Effects of Meeting Exercise Guidelines on Depression and Anxiety in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09593985.2025.2518261 Exercise and Physical Activity Recommendations for ALL People with MS https://nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/exercise-and-physical-activity-recommend STUDY: Delayed Access and Adherence are Real-World Challenges That Compromise Effectiveness of Natalizumab in Multiple Sclerosis https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211034825003694 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 Devices https://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 413 Guest: Dr. Brad Willingham Privacy Policy

More people over the age of 50 are being diagnosed with MS than ever before. When you consider the other health conditions that often develop as we age, and you add the fact that our immune system changes with age, there's a lot to think about when it comes to diagnosing and treating late-onset MS. This week, Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, the System Chief of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis at the OhioHealth Multiple Sclerosis Center, joins me to help us better understand late-onset MS. We'll also tell you about research results that could lead to a simple blood test that can predict MS years before someone experiences a single symptom. You'll learn about an ultra-high resolution brain imaging tool that could open the door to precision neuroscience and revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders The FDA wants to talk with people about what living with MS is like, and what they're looking for in future treatments. We'll tell you how and where to register for an informational webinar that will give you all the details about the Shaping Tomorrow Together initiative. And if you're in or around Northern California, we'll remind you that you can join us this Saturday in Napa Valley at Crush MS! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Understanding Late-Onset MS :22 How a simple blood test may predict MS years before someone experiences any symptoms 1:34 How a new ultra-high resolution brain imaging tool may revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders 6:40 Are you interested in telling the FDA what it's like living with MS, and what you want in future treatments? 8:53 Are you ready to support MS research while spending the afternoon in a Napa Valley vineyard? Get all the details to attend Crush MS 10:29 Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas discusses what's different and what's the same in treating late-onset MS 12:09 Share this episode 29:26 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 29:46 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/412 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Early Identification of Individuals at Risk for Developing Multiple Sclerosis by Quantification of EBNA-1-381-452-Specific Antibody Titers https://nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61751-9 REGISTER: Informational Webinar on the FDA "Shaping Tomorrow Together" Listening Session https://nmss.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hHdHhEE3TBmPJ2glcgME0Q#/registration EVENT: Crush MS https://crushms.org 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 Devices https://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 412 Guest: Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas Privacy Policy

Back in Episode #401, we reported promising results from a Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium and its impact on progressive MS. This therapy is being developed by Immunic Therapeutics, and this week, Jason Tardio, Immunic's President and Chief Operating Officer, joins me to share some of the specifics of that clinical trial. Jason will also shed light on why Immunic believes that vidofludimus calcium goes beyond merely slowing disability, potentially offering vital neuroprotection for MS patients, making it a potential game-changer. We're also sharing the encouraging results from a study that focused on the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation as a remyelination therapy. We'll tell you about a study in the U.K. that measured disability progression among people with MS five years after undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). You'll learn about an AI tool that can predict whether someone living with MS is likely to experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) with a high degree of accuracy. We'll tell you where you can catch the International Progressive MS Alliance webcast featuring a panel of experts discussing the future role of digital tools in MS research. We'll explain how one of the less publicized aspects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact future MS care. And Crush MS is less than two weeks away! We're sharing all the details! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Encouraging results from a clinical trial for progressive MS. :22 How a less-publicized aspect of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact future MS patient care 1:18 A study looked at the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation as a remyelination therapy 4:31 A study in the U.K. analyzed disability progression among people with MS five years after receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (aHSCT) 7:42 Can AI accurately predict who will experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA)? 10:45 Don't miss the International Progressive MS Alliance webcast featuring experts discussing the future role of digital tools in MS research 12:40 Are you ready to support MS research while spending the afternoon in a Napa Valley vineyard? Get all the details to attend Crush MS 13:45 Jason Tardio, President and Chief Operating Officer of Immunic Therapeutics, discusses the recent Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium as a therapy for progressive MS 15:03 Share this episode 30:03 Have you downloaded the free RealTalk MS app? 30:23 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/411 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: jon@realtalkms.com 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 Become an MS Activist https://nationalmssociety.org/advocacy STUDY: Remyelination of Chronic Demyelinated Lesions With Directly Induced Neural Stem Cells https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awaf208/8185601 STUDY: Autologous Haemotopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the U.K.: A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis of Activity Haematological Outcomes from the British Society of Blood And Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjh.20199 STUDY: Deep Learning to Predict Progression Independent of Relapse Activity at a First Demyelinating...