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As Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Nancy Sicotte led the expert task force that the MS Society convened to develop the COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS. Dr. Sicotte is returning to RealTalk MS to answer your questions about the vaccine and MS.      Dr. Sicotte is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she's also the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Program.      Diane Kramer was diagnosed with MS in 2010. As a healthcare worker, Diane has already received the COVID-19 vaccine. Diane is also joining me to share her experience with the vaccine.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Dr. Nancy Sicotte answers your questions about the MS Society's COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS  1:47 Diane Kramer shares her experience with the COVID-19 vaccine  19:51 Share this episode  27:24 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  27:44 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/177 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 177 Guests: Dr. Nancy Sicotte and Diane Kramer Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  COVID19, CovidVaccine, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

The National MS Society has issued its initial COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS and we're covering every detail of this anxiously awaited and important announcement.   We're also taking a look back with Dr. Barbara Giesser at some of the things that made life better for people living with MS in 2020.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! National MS Society releases COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS  1:44 Some of the things that made life better for people living with MS in 2020 with Dr. Barbara Giesser  13:46 Share this episode  26:19 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  26:39 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/176 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay National MS Society COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 176 Guests: Dr. Barbara Giesser Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, COVID19, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

Research creates the future for people affected by MS. And clinical research can't happen without your participation. Joining me as my guest is Sara Loud, the CEO of iConquerMS, the people-powered-research network that puts you at the center of MS research.   We're also celebrating a whole list of MS advocacy wins that will translate into making life better for people living with MS in the United States.   We'll tell you about a study that clearly demonstrates why it's essential to start disease-modifying therapy once someone receives an MS diagnosis.   We're sharing the results of a study about MS-related pain. And we'll tell you about a new set of Amazon Alexa features that make being a long-distance care partner easier.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Celebrating MS advocacy wins  :26 Effects of disease-modifying therapy on disability among people living with relapsing-remitting MS over 15 years  4:33 Study reveals new information about MS pain  6:01 Amazon Alexa has new features especially for care partners  9:11 My interview with Sara Loud  11:58 Share this episode  28:39 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  28:59 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/175 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National MS Society: Advocate for Change   STUDY: Effect of Disease-Modifying Therapy on Disability in Multiple Sclerosis Over 15 Years   STUDY: Characterizing Chronic Pain Phenotypes in Multiple Sclerosis: A Nationwide Study   RealTalk MS Episode 170: Special MS Pain Episode   For More Information About iConquerMS: Website: iConquerMS.org Sara Loud's Email: sloud@acceleratedcure.org   National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 175 Guests: Sara Loud Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  iConquerMS, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

In this episode of RealTalk MS, we're re-visiting my conversation with Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice-President of Research at the National MS Society, about some of the most interesting research announcements made during the MSVirtual2020 conference. This is one of my favorite conversations of the entire year, and you've made it this year's most downloaded and listened to RealTalk MS episode. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Happy New Year!  :23 My interview with Dr. Bruce Bebo  :39 Share this episode  27:04 Have you downloaded the FREE RealTalk MS app?  27:24 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/174 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 174 Guests: Dr. Bruce Bebo Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  COVID19, MSVirtual2020, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

It's safe to say that this year, the biggest gift of the holiday season has been the arrival of not one, but two COVID-19 vaccines. Still, while the COVID-19 vaccines have created a tremendous amount of hope, they've also created an equal number of questions among people who are living with MS.  So the National MS Society has convened a group of experts to provide guidance for people living with MS when it comes to making decisions about the safety, efficacy, and the timing of COVID-19 vaccines as they relate to certain MS disease-modifying therapies.   As the Chair of the MS Society’s National Medical Advisory Committee, my guest, Dr. Nancy Sicotte, is leading the effort to create this very important guidance.    Dr. Sicotte is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she's also the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Program.    We'll also talking about the FDA's approval to shorten the time required for an Ocrevus infusion.   We'll tell you about new study results that show Mayzent may improve cognitive processing speed among people with progressive MS.   And if you're living with progressive MS, we'll tell you about an important clinical trial that you may be eligible to participate in.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Happy Holidays!  :24 Shortened infusion time for Ocrevus  2:10 Mayzent may improve thinking skills among people with progressive MS  3:30 Investigators are recruiting people with progressive MS for a clinical trial  5:21 My interview with Dr. Nancy Sicotte 8:48 Share this episode  23:57 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  24:18 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/173 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) STUDY: Shorter Infusion Time of Ocrelizumab: Results from the Randomized, Double-Blind ENSEMBLE  PLUS Study in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis   STUDY: Siponimod and Cognition in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: EXPAND Secondary Analyses   For More Information About the Tolebrutinib Clinical Trial: Phone: (800) 733-1610 Email: US@sanofi.com   National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 173 Guests: Dr. Nancy Sicotte Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  COVID19, Vaccine, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

Feeling some of the stress and anxiety that often come with the holiday season? Who could blame you? If the holidays aren't enough, this year, we're also going through what's looking like the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress and anxiety aren't guaranteed, but they aren't exactly unexpected, either. My guest this week, Megan Weigel, is here to share some techniques and strategies that we can use to de-stress during the holidays.     Megan is a nurse practitioner specializing in neurological care. As a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse and a board-certified Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse, Megan brings a unique integrative medicine and holistic nursing perspective to her practice.   We'll also share more encouraging news about autologous hematopoietic stem cell clinical trials.   We'll tell you about the newly released National MS Society guidance on telemedicine. (And if you've downloaded the free RealTalk MS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you'll find your copy of that guidance under the "Bonus Content" tab!)   We're also talking about the very positive pilot study of a new computer-based cognitive rehab program. And we'll tell you about the launch of a first of its kind study that will help scientists understand how MS affects memory.   If you're using CBD edibles to help manage some of your MS symptoms, you'll want to hear what happened when 40 brands of edibles were analyzed by an independent laboratory.   We'll tell you how you can participate in a clinical trial that's going to evaluate treatments for MS fatigue (You can participate from home...and you can even get paid!)   And if there are times when you just want to talk with someone who really gets it when it comes to living with MS, we'll tell you about MS Friends.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! More encouraging news about autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation  1:46 National MS Society issues telemedicine guidance  5:09 Computerized cognitive rehab pilot study shows promise  6:34 Kessler study will explore memory loss in MS  8:34 CBD edibles...how much CBD is that???  9:34 Your chance to participate from home in a clinical trial about MS fatigue  11:29 Just feel like talking? You can call MS Friends 13:34 My interview with Megan Weigel, DPN, ARNP-C 16:04 Share this episode  31:49 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  32:09 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/172 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) First Coast Integrative Medicine   STUDY: Selective Cognitive Dysfunction and Physical Disability Improvement After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Highly Active Multiple Sclerosis   RealTalk MS Episode 166   National MS Society Guidance: Tips for Successful Telemedicine for Those Living with MS   STUDY: Enhancing Cognitive Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis with a Disease-Specific Tool   Leafreport CBD Edibles Market Report   COMBO-MS MS Fatigue Study Eligibility Survey   MS Friends: 1-866-MSFRIEND (1-866-673-7436) National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 172 Guests: Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  MSFriends, CBD, Stemcells, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

Every day, 12 more Canadians are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Facing one of the highest MS rates in the world, spread across a geographically large country, the MS Society of Canada is the only national voluntary organization in Canada that supports cutting-edge MS research while providing services and support to more than 90,000 people living with MS.      Joining me as my guest is Dr. Pamela Valentine, who is not only the president & CEO of the MS Society of Canada but also a multi-award winning neuroscientist. During our conversation, we'll be talking about COVID-19, progressive MS, and some of the most pressing issues facing the MS community today.   We'll also share some encouraging stem cell clinical trial results. (And we're including a quick review of what these different types of stem cells are all about!)   We'll tell you about a new immune cell discovery that helps explain the importance of the connection between the gut and the central nervous system.   We're also talking about a new study from the Mayo Clinic that shows how a woman's pregnancies and the onset of menopause may influence the onset of progressive MS.   And we'll tell you where to watch a 2020 MS Research Update from MS Research Australia. This video was produced especially for people affected by MS, and it's definitely worth watching!   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in active progressive MS  1:44 Gut Immune Cells May Play Key Role in MS  5:38 Pregnancies, Later Menopause Tied to Progressive MS Onset Age  10:44 $100M Program Aims to Improve Diversity in Clinical Trials  12:53 MS Research Australia: Progress in MS Research Update 2020  16:15 My interview with Dr. Pamela Valentine 17:59 Share this episode  31:55 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  32:15 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/171 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) MS Society of Canada STUDY: Beneficial Effects of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Active Progressive Multiple Sclerosis   STUDY: Gut Microbiota-Specific IgA-B Cells Traffic to the CNS in Active Multiple Sclerosis   STUDY: Reproductive History and Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Risk in Women   Email for info about Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Program:  DCTCDPinfo@nmfonline.org   VIDEO: MS Research Australia: Progress in MS Research Update 2020 National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 171 Guests: Dr. Pamela Valentine Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  MSSocietyCanada, MSResearchAust, Stemcells, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

MS-related pain is one of those invisible symptoms that can have a profound impact on your quality of life. So we're devoting this entire episode of RealTalk MS to taking a deep dive into assessing and managing MS-related pain with my guests, Dr. Dawn M. Ehde and Dr. Heidi Maloni. Both of my guests are experts at assessing, treating, and managing MS-related pain, but each approaches pain from a slightly different perspective.      Dr. Ehde is a clinical psychologist and professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington, where she has an endowed professorship in Multiple Sclerosis Research. Dr. Ehde and her group at UW have published the results of several studies on MS-related pain in peer-reviewed medical journals.    Dr. Heidi Maloni is a nurse practitioner and the National Clinical Nursing Director for the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence East at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Maloni heads up research programs to further the understanding of MS and its impact on Veterans while also aiding in the development of treatments to manage the disease and its symptoms.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! The different ways you might experience MS-Related Pain  :23 My interview with Dr. Dawn Ehde & Dr. Heidi Maloni 3:41 Share this episode  27:07 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  27:27 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/170 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National MS Society: Pain Resources National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 170 Guests: Dr. Dawn Ehde and Dr. Heidi Maloni Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

Joining me this week is Brett Drummond, a scientist in Australia who stepped away from his lab to develop an online resource designed to bridge the gap between the MS patient community and the MS research community. The result of his efforts is MSTranslate. We're talking about this excellent curated MS information resource, and Brett even shares some insights into the MS research that he finds particularly exciting.   We're also talking about the research team that used human stem cells to create myelin-producing cells in a lab dish in just 3 weeks.   We'll tell you what a University of Washington Rehabilitation Medicine research team learned when they surveyed people living with MS about their level of distress during the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Wouldn't it be convenient if MS progression could be measured by analyzing how you type on your smartphone? We'll tell you about the study that asked that question.   We'll also share new discoveries from the Avonex clinical trial that show MS-related brain atrophy can be predicted 10 years before it occurs.   And as we approach Thanksgiving in the U.S., we're sharing the things that we're thankful for this year.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Being thankful in 2020  :22 Myelin-producing cells created in a lab dish in 3 weeks  5:43 UW Rehabilitation Medicine surveyed people living with MS on their feelings of distress & risk perception in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic  6:57 Measuring MS progression by typing on your smartphone   9:06 Study shows neurofilament light chain level at the first MS episode predicts future brain atrophy  10:43 My interview with Brett Drummond  14:54 Share this episode  37:13 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  37:34 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/169 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) MSTranslate STUDY: Generation of Oligodendrocytes and Establishment of an All-Human Myelinating Platform for Human Pluripotent Stem Cells STUDY: Distress and Risk Perception in People Living With Multiple Sclerosis During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic STUDY: Early-Warning Signals for Disease Activity in Patients Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis Based on Keystroke Dynamics STUDY: Association of Serum Neurofilament Light Levels with Long-Term Brain Atrophy in Patients With a First Multiple Sclerosis Episode National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 169 Guests: Brett Drummond Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, MSTranslate, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy  

Today, remyelination holds real promise as a strategy for restoring lost function and slowing or even stopping MS progression.  This week, we're taking a deep dive into the current state of remyelination research.  Joining me are Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, the Hazel Prior Hostetler Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic and the director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, and Dr. Ian Duncan, a neuroscientist, and Professor of Neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the recipient of the 2020 Dystel Prize for MS Research.   We're also talking about the publication of the Atlas of MS, the most extensive global MS prevalence study to date. And we're even including a copy of the published study as bonus content in the RealTalk MS app!   We're sharing an excellent explanation of comorbidities in MS by Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie. And we're sharing some news about Dr. Marrie, as well.   The European MS Platform's annual conference begins Thursday. This year, the theme is Understanding Progressive MS. We'll tell you how and where to register for this free virtual event. And we'll remind you where you can register for next week's virtual 2020 MS-CONNECT conference, hosted by the MS Society of Canada.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Veterans with MS are eligible to join the PVA  :22 The largest MS prevalence study to date has been published. And it's yours in the RealTalk MS app!  3:26 Dr. Ruth Ann Marie on comorbidities in MS   4:29 European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive MS begins Thursday   5:56 MS Society of Canada 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference begins next Monday  6:56 Dr. Jeffrey Cohen talks about remyelination  9:13 Dr. Ian Duncan talks about the science behind remyelination  21:48 Share this episode  31:31 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  31:52 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/168 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Paralyzed Veterans Of America VIDEO: Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie on comorbidities in MS Register for the European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Register for the MS Society of Canada's 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 168 Guests: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Ian Duncan Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, EMSPVirtual2020, MSConnect, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, giving us an opportunity to honor the men and women who have served in America's armed forces. More than 70,000 U.S. veterans are living with MS, and joining me on the podcast is Karla Clay, an Air Force veteran, and a National Veterans Wheelchair Games multiple medal winner. We're talking about the life-changing turn that Karla's MS journey ended up taking.  As of today, the fate of the Affordable Care Act and the legal protections for people with pre-existing conditions are in the hands of the Supreme Court. So we're also talking about The 100 Days Agenda: A Patient-First Blueprint. This document is the result of a collaboration between the National MS Society and 33 other patient organizations and it provides specific steps that the President and other elected officials can take to protect access to adequate, affordable insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.   We'll tell you about a study that identifies a potential new risk associated with disease-modifying therapies for people living with MS who are over the age of 45.   And the month of November is loaded with outstanding webinars and conferences featuring some of the leading MS experts in the world. The good news is that you can virtually attend all of these online events at no charge, from the comfort of your own home. We're sharing all the details and we'll tell you where to register for each one!   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! As of today, the legal protections for people with pre-existing conditions is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court  :22 National MS Society and 33 other patient organizations publish The 100 Days Agenda: A Patient-First Blueprint  2:25 Study identifies a potential new DMT risk for people living with MS who are over the age of 45   3:34 November is loaded with outstanding webinars and conferences that you can attend virtually...for FREE!  5:04 International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast: Speeding Life-Changing Treatments for Progressive MS  5:25 National Alliance for Caregiving and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving webinar: Flattening the Caregiver Crisis Curve  5:57 European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive MS  7:52 MS Society of Canada 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference  8:48 My Interview with Karla Clay, Capt USAF (Ret)  9:41 Share this episode  31:09 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  31:28 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/167 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Veterans Wheelchair Games Paralyzed Veterans Of America U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Centers Of Excellence The 100 Days Agenda: A Patient-First Blueprint STUDY: Age-Related Adverse Events of Disease-Modifying Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Regression Register for the International Progressive MS Alliance Global Webcast: Speeding Life-Changing Treatments for Progressive MS Register for Flattening the Caregiver Crisis Curve Register for the European MS Platform Annual Conference: Understanding Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Register for the MS Society of Canada's 2020 MS-CONNECT Conference National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 167 Guests: Karla Clay, Capt USAF (Ret) Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, VeteransDay, EMSPVirtual2020, MSConnect, Caregiving, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

Almost everything that we've learned about multiple sclerosis is the result of people with MS choosing to participate in clinical research. When it comes to MS and most every other chronic illness, clinical research is the common denominator of all medical progress.      This week, we're breaking down the details of MS clinical research with my guests, Dr. Sandi Cassard, a research associate in the Neurology department at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Diane Kramer, who has participated in more than 20 research studies since being diagnosed with MS in 2010.    After analyzing COVID-19 MS patient registries and studies from countries around the world, the MS International Federation has issued updated COVID-19 guidance for people living with MS. We'll tell you about it -- and if you've downloaded the RealTalk MS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, you'll receive your own copy of this detailed guidance under the Bonus Content tab!   We also have some final words before election day to share with our listeners in the U.S. And they're not even our words!    We'll share the results of a study that may offer a clue as to why African-Americans with MS are likely to experience more relapses, greater disability, and often require mobility assistance earlier in their disease course when compared to Caucasians with MS.   You'll also hear about an MRI study that shows Hispanics with MS are at a higher risk for developing more aggressive forms of MS at an earlier age when compared to Caucasians with MS.   And you'll meet a true difference-maker when you meet Nightingale Award recipient and founder of MS Bright Spots of Hope, Michelle Keating.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Have you checked out MSTranslate?  1:03 Healthcare is on the ballot! Have you voted yet???  3:42 MSIF issues updated COVID-19 guidance for people living with MS    9:38 Researchers discover 2 gene variants that may help explain why African-Americans with MS often have a more severe disease course than Caucasians with MS  10:58 A study shows that Hispanics with MS are at a higher risk of developing more aggressive forms of MS at an earlier age.  12:44 My Interview with MS researcher Dr. Sandi Cassard and Diane Kramer  14:57 My Interview with Nightingale Award recipient and founder of MS Bright Spots of Hope Michelle Keating  24:08 Share this episode  35:52 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  36:12 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/165 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) MSTranslate MSIF Global COVID-19 Advisory for People with MS STUDY: Two Genetic Variants Explain the Association of European Ancestry with Multiple Sclerosis Risk in African-Americans UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Project STUDY: Brain MRI Finds Hispanic Patients Develop More Aggressive MS MS Bright Spots of Hope National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 165 Guests: Dr. Sandi Cassard, Diane Kramer, and Michelle Keating Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist,  RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

MS doesn't only affect individuals. It affects families. And that's probably most clear when we're talking about pediatric MS. The National MS Society estimates that there are about 5,000 diagnosed cases of pediatric MS in the United States and less than 10,000 cases worldwide, but those numbers become far less important when your child is one of those diagnosed cases. We're taking a deep dive into pediatric MS with Hannah Schnitzler, who lives with pediatric MS, Hannah's mom, Melissa Fisher, and pediatric MS expert Dr. Brenda Banwell.   We're also talking about study results that show a simple sugar that's available over the counter is effective in preventing myelin degeneration in the mouse model of MS. And we'll tell you how a research team at the University of Chicago went about designing a novel MS therapy that's been demonstrated to promote myelin repair and even stop MS from developing in the mouse model of MS.    You'll hear about the first oral disease-modifying therapy that's been approved to treat active secondary progressive MS in England, Wales, and Scotland. And we'll tell you how you can be a part of future MS research projects.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Study shows an over-the-counter simple sugar promotes myelin repair in mouse model of MS  1:31 Researchers design a new MS therapy that reduces MS symptoms and even prevents MS from developing in mouse model of MS  3:15 Mayzent approved for treating secondary progressive MS in England, Wales, and Scotland    5:28 Register to participate in future research at the University of Washington MS Rehabilitation & Wellness Center  6:38 Online survey for parents of a child living with pediatric MS  8:02 My Interview with pediatric MS patient Hannah Schnitzler and her mom  9:22 My Interview with pediatric MS expert Dr. Brenda Banwell  21:57 Share this episode  42:00 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  42:21 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/164 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) STUDY: N-acetylglucosamine Drives Myelination By Triggering Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation STUDY: Prolonged Residence of an Albumin-IL-4 Fusion Protein in Secondary Lymphoid Organs Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis SURVEY: University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation & Wellness Center Research Participant Survey SURVEY: Parents of a Child with Pediatric MS (English) SURVEY: Parents of a Child with Pediatric MS (Spanish) National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 164 Guests: Hannah Schnitzler, Melissa Fisher & Dr. Brenda Banwell Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, PediatricMS, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

The ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment & Research in MS) meeting is the largest MS research conference in the world. This year, of course, the ECTRIMS conference was virtual, and so was my conversation with Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS Society. Join us in this special episode of RealTalk MS as we take a deep dive into the research breakthroughs that will lead to treatments designed to stop MS progression, restore lost function, and end MS forever.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/163 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 163 Guests: Dr. Bruce Bebo Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSVirtual2020, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

We're in the midst of the fall MS conference season, and while all the conferences are virtual, there's still lots of news to share. This week, we're talking with EJ Levy, the Founder and President of MS Hope for a Cure, about Big October 2020.      We're also talking about MS rehabilitation science with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the Senior Director of Patient Management, Care, & Rehabilitation Research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Our wide-ranging conversation includes updates from the 10th International Symposium on Gait & Balance in MS, rehabilitation for people living with progressive MS, and evidence-based best practices when it comes to the physical wellness, nutritional wellness, and emotional wellness of people living with MS.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! It's MS research conference season!  :22 Big October starts today  :45 My interview with EJ Levy, the Founder & President of MS Hope for a Cure    2:13 Participate today in the National MS Society's Economic Impact Survey (and why it's so important!)  16:57 10th International Symposium on Gait & Balance in MS  18:48 My Interview with Dr. Kathy Zackowski  20:18 Share this episode  36:59 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  37:20 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/162 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Big October 2020 Health Behaviors, Wellness, and Multiple Sclerosis Amid COVID-19 National MS Society Survey: The Economic Impact of MS National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 162 Guests: EJ Levy & Dr. Kathy Zackowski Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, BigOctober2020, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

A lot of us may have to think back to a time before the pandemic to remember what it felt like to get a good night's sleep. But if you're someone living with MS, you might have to think back even further. Research tells us that more than half the people living with MS report significant disruptions in their sleep and difficulty maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. And that can lead to additional health issues along with an overall decline in quality of life and wellbeing.     My guest is Dr. Katie Siengsukon,  a physical therapist, Associate Professor, and Director of the Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. We're talking about the importance of sleep to your overall health, how sleep problems affect MS, and the steps you can take if you're experiencing sleep problems.    We're also talking about how the things that people affected by MS care most about really boil down to public policy decisions, making MS advocacy a critical element of this podcast. And while we're on the subject of advocacy, we're sharing our rant about a recently announced "healthcare plan" for the United States.   You'll hear about what I'm calling a wellness roadmap for people living with MS.   We'll give you the details of a newly-announced collaboration designed to produce a diagnostic test for a protein called neurofilament light chain -- and why that will be a game-changer for people living with MS.   And we'll tell you about a clinical trial that will be starting soon for a therapy designed to reduce or eliminate MS disease activity by re-educating your immune system.    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Why it's always about MS advocacy  1:25 My rant about the "healthcare plan" that was just announced  5:00 Maintaining your physical, nutritional, and emotional wellness amid COVID-19    11:57 Here comes a diagnostic test for neurofilament light chain...and why it will be a game-changer for people living with MS  16:57 "Re-educating" your immune system. A Phase 1 clinical trial for ANK-700 begins soon  19:44 My Interview with Dr. Katie Siengsukon  22:17 Share this episode  34:44 Donate to the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  35:07 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/161 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vote.gov Health Behaviors, Wellness, and Multiple Sclerosis Amid COVID-19 RealTalk MS Episode 142: New Guidelines for Exercise & Physical Activity from the National MS Society RealTalk MS Episode 159: Building Resilience with Dr. Dawn Ehde Anokion: What is Immune Tolerance? National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 161 Guests: Dr. Katie Siengsukon Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSActivist, Sleep, Vote, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

This past weekend, 8,000 MS research scientists and clinicians gathered virtually for the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis. Known as ECTRIMS, this year's conference was appropriately re-branded as MSVirtual2020.   We're talking about great presentations on the MS prodrome (and we'll explain what that is and why it's important), when it might be time to discontinue MS disease-modifying therapies, some encouraging progressive MS clinical trial results, the new number for global MS prevalence, and more!   We have a lot to talk about. Welcome to MSVirtual2020! The MS Prodrome  :56 When is it appropriate to discontinue disease-modifying therapy in MS?    4:18 Study shows Masitinib slows disability progression in progressive MS  6:49 Multiple Sclerosis International Federation announces the Atlas of MS, with Clare Walton  9:08 Study shows disease-modifying therapy may delay disability progression and time until people with primary progressive MS need a wheelchair  20:55 Study analyzes benefits of Wahls Diet & Swank Diet  22:47 Atara BioTherapeutics shares initial data from its ATA-188 cell therapy clinical trial, with Dr. AJ Joshi  24:07 Share this episode  40:17 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/MSVirtual2020 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Bonus Episode:  Guests: Clare Walton, Dr. AJ Joshi Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, MSVirtual2020, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

Disease-modifying therapies are the cornerstone of any effective MS treatment plan. But with more than 20 approved prescription medications available today, the choices can seem overwhelming.   People living with MS have questions -- Do you start out with a safe but less effective medication, or do you hit MS hard with a high-efficacy drug that may carry more risks? When is the right time to consider switching medications, and how do you have that conversation with your neurologist? Do things like other health conditions affect which disease-modifying therapy you're on? And what about aging?    My guest is Dr. Scott Newsome, an Associate Professor of Neurology, and Director of Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Newsome also serves as the Co-Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program at Johns Hopkins.  And I'm devoting this entire episode of RealTalk MS to taking a deep-dive into disease-modifying therapies with Dr. Newsome.   We'll also give you the details about two major events taking place this week -- the MSVirtual2020 conference and the Keep Moving Forward benefit celebrating the MS Movement.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! ECTRIMS + ACTRIMS = MSVirtual2020  :24 Don't miss Keep Moving Forward  1:08 My Interview with Dr. Scott Newsome  1:38 Share this episode  33:06 Leave a rating & review  33:26 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  34:45 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  realtalkms.com/158 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 158 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guests: Dr. Scott Newsome Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Tecfidera, Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Copaxone, Gilenya, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy    

One of the very few bright spots to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic is the overall effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine. And although people living with MS and their doctors have largely hailed telemedicine as a success, there are significant obstacles to overcome before it can become a permanent part of our healthcare system.     My guest is Mei Wa Kwong, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, and we're talking about the things that need to happen to ensure that telemedicine remains a viable means of healthcare delivery.   We're also talking about a study that demonstrates that playing a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS.   We'll tell you about the research team that has identified the specific areas in the brain where the neurological changes triggered by fatigue actually occur, and why that's a good thing for people living with MS.   Over 1,000 people living with MS completed the global vsMS survey. We'll share the key results with you.   We'll also give you the details about a small MRI study that shows one way that the brains of African-Americans with MS are affected differently than the brains of Caucasians with MS. And we'll remind you about where you can register for the upcoming National MS Society's Black MS Experience Summit.   And we're inviting you to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement. You won't want to miss this!   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! A study shows that a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS  2:25 Researchers identify areas of the brain that are affected by fatigue  5:09 Results of the global vsMS survey remind us of all the ways that MS interrupts lives    7:04 MRI study shows one way that MS affects the brains of African-Americans differently than Caucasians  9:30 National MS Society to convene the Black MS Experience Summit  10:50 You're invited to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement  11:56 My Interview with Mei Wa Kwong  13:31 Share this episode  23:48 Leave a rating & review  24:09 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  24:51 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/157 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Center for Connected Health Policy STUDY: A Novel In-Home Digital Treatment to Improve Processing Speed in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study STUDY: Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Physical Fatigue on Effort-Based Choice Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on Daily Activities, Emotional Well-being, and Relationships: The Global vsMS Survey STUDY: African Americans Experience Disproportionate Neurodegenerative Changes in the Medulla and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord in Early Multiple Sclerosis National MS Society Black MS Experience Summit Keep Moving Forward: A Benefit to Celebrate the MS Movement National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 157 Guests: Ms. Mei Wa Kwong Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Telehealth, vsMS, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

Whether you call it brain fog, cog-fog, or you don't happen to have a name for it, cognitive dysfunction affects more than half of all the people with MS.   Joining me once again is Dr. Meghan Beier, a Rehabilitation Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Beier specializes in cognitive rehabilitation and neuropsychological assessment and intervention and she's back to answer more of our questions about managing the cognitive issues typically associated with MS.     We're also talking about Kesimpta (ofatumumab), the high-efficacy b-cell disease-modifying therapy that just received FDA approval.   We'll tell you about the case study of a patient who lost their vaccination immunity to the Varicella-Zoster virus (causes chickenpox & shingles) after receiving their first Ocrevus infusion.   We'll give you the details about the generic for Tecfidera that's going to be available in just a few weeks. And we'll tell you why the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Teva, the manufacturer of Copaxone.   We'll share all the details and let you know where to register for the National MS Society's Black MS Experience Summit.   And we'll tell you how a research team from Facebook (yup -- you read that right!) and New York University is hoping to speed up MRI exams.   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! We're trending!  :22 FDA approves ofatumumab (Kesimpta) for treating relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary-progressive MS  3:53 Patient loses vaccination immunity for Varicella-Zoster virus after Ocrevus infusion    5:44 Generic for Tecfidera will be available in September  8:25 U.S. Department of Justice sues Coaxone manufacturer, Teva  9:18 National MS Society to convene the Black MS Experience Summit  12:24 Facebook & New York University research team develop artificial intelligence technology that will speed up MRI exams  13:26 My Interview with Dr. Meghan Beier  15:48 Share this episode  29:38 Leave a rating & review  29:58 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  30:22 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/156 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.comPhone: (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 Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) Varicella-Zoster Immunity Loss in Multiple Sclerosis Patient Treated with Ocrelizumab National MS Society Black MS Experience Summit National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 156 Hosted By: Jon Strum Guests: Dr. Meghan Beier Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Tecfidera, Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Ofatumumab, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy