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Most people don't think about home accessibility until mobility changes force the conversation. But what if you decide to take control of the unknown and design your living space for whatever the future might bring? My guest, Sarah Timmerman, explains how she took total control of her future by designing and building what she calls The House That MS Built—a home engineered from the foundation up to future-proof her independence through smart, universal design and relentless self-advocacy.  We'll also tell you about a research team that identified 4 biomarkers that, together, can help a neurologist understand whether a stem cell therapy is working for their patient weeks before that patient returns to the clinic. We're sharing results of a trial that answered the question, "Can diet actually change what's happening at the cellular level inside the brain?" You'll want to hear these results! And we'll tell you about a research team that has developed a derivative of an HIV medication that restored mobility and vision to mice with the mouse version of MS.  We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week:  The House that MS Built  :22 Have you downloaded the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device?   1:16 Researchers at Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York identify 4 biomarkers that can help physicians track the response to stem cell therapy in people living with progressive MS   2:01 New research identifies how gut health can lead to nerve cell damage in MS   4:49 Repurposed HIV medication restores lost function in the mouse model of MS  8:48 Sarah Timmerman shares her story and explains how relentless self-advocacy became the foundation for the House that MS Built  12:55 Share this episode  24:09 Next week  24:29 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/474 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu STUDY: Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Neural Progenitors on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13585449 STUDY: High-Fat Diet Promotes T-Cell Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12974-026-04049-x STUDY: The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aei2870 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 474 Guest: Sarah Timmerman Privacy Policy

RealTalk MS is celebrating our ninth anniversary, and we're marking the milestone with a special guest! Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, returns to the show for a candid, forward-looking conversation about why today represents one of the most promising moments for advancing MS research and transforming clinical care. We're taking a hard look at the game-changers on the horizon: what it will take to shorten the diagnostic journey from years down to mere hours, why it's time to retire outdated disease labels in favor of true precision medicine, and the surprising science behind testing GLP-1s for neuroprotection. From unlocking massive clinical data sets to fighting for research dollars on Capitol Hill, Tim pulls back the curtain on the Society's strategic plan to end MS once and for all. Pop in your earbuds and join us in celebrating nine years of community and conversation! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week:  Dr. Tim Coetzee briefs us on the National MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care  :18 Download the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet  1:56 We gave the RealTalk MS website a glow-up!   2:37 Check your congressional representative's grade in the Congressional Healthcare Access Report Card  3:07 Dr. Tim Coetzee discusses the MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care  3:46 Share this episode  37:04 Next week  37:24 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/473 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 473 Guest: Dr. Tim Coetzee Privacy Policy

We are less than 40 days away from MSToronto2026—the joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Scientific Congress. While the congress brings together the world's leading MS researchers and clinicians, Patient Community Day —in person and online—is designed specifically for people affected by multiple sclerosis. This week, Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond join me to preview what to expect from Patient Community Day 2026. With less than 50 days until the midterm elections in the United States, the National MS Society is hosting a webinar you can't afford to miss, titled MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care. We'll tell you how to register (And we'll remind you why you should!). A 22-country survey of over 17,000 people with MS revealed that the invisible symptoms of MS remain critically unaddressed. We're sharing the details of this landmark survey. We're sharing early trial results of a precision red blood cell therapy designed to halt myelin attacks without shutting down the immune system. We'll tell you about the German research team that's repurposing a common, low-cost medication into a skin patch designed to jumpstart natural remyelination. And we'll share a study showing how simple, short voice recordings can predict long-term cognitive changes and brain volume loss in people living with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week:  A preview of Patient Community Day 2026  :22 The National MS Society is hosting a webinar you shouldn't miss   1:32 Results of a landmark survey reveal critical unmet needs among people living with MS   5:27 A new approach to preventing MS inflammatory attacks while keeping the rest of the immune system intact   8:27 Could a skin patch successfully promote myelin repair?  11:42 Can analyzing regular speech predict future brain atrophy in people with MS?  14:34 Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond give us a preview of Patient Community Day 2026  18:53 Share this episode  33:01 Next week  33:20 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/472 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu WEBINAR: Advocacy In Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://nmss.quorum.us/event/37051 STUDY: Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Survey: Patient-Reported Data on the Prevalence, Burden, and Management of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Europe https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261480514 STUDY: Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Peptide-Coupled Red Blood Cells Induces Antigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells https://pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2614908123 STUDY: Automated Speech Analysis Reveals Progressive Linguistic Changes Associated With Subsequent Gray Matter Loss in Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585261477213 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 472 Guest: Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves Privacy Policy

Relapses make life with MS unpredictable. Understanding what they are, why they happen, and how best to manage them can make a relapse less scary and easier to navigate.   This week, Dr. Gabriela Karolidis, a board-certified neurologist and neuroimmunologist at Thomas Jefferson University, joins us for a deep dive into MS relapses. The MS International Federation has just updated the Atlas of MS, showing more than 3 million people living with MS worldwide. We're sharing the details behind the new numbers. We'll also share a study showing how wearable activity trackers add a dimension of real-world data that provides a more complete picture of an individual's mobility throughout the day. We'll tell you about research on Vitamin D supplements that fails to determine whether they are beneficial for people living with MS. We're sharing study results showing that social and socioeconomic factors clearly affect cognitive function among people living with MS.  We're also sharing results from a nationwide study in Denmark that focused on whether high-efficacy DMTs affect progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). And we'll tell you about a fall prevention study that you may be eligible to participate in (compensation provided!). We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Navigating a relapse  :22 Global MS prevalence surpasses 3 million   :57 A study shows that wearable activity trackers help create a more complete picture of an individual's mobility   6:38 Researchers attempt to determine whether Vitamin D supplements help people living with MS   10:14 A study provides evidence that social and socioeconomic factors impact cognitive function in people living with MS  13:58 A nationwide study in Denmark focuses on whether high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies have an impact on progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA)  17:20 You may be eligible to participate in a fall prevention study (compensation is provided)  21:11 Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis takes us on a deep dive into MS relapses  22:58 Share this episode  37:52 Next week  38:12 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/471 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Global Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis Surpasses 3 Million: 2024 Update of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261479954 RESOURCE: Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS https://msif.org/atlas STUDY: Diurnal Step Count Patterns in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261475910 STUDY: Vitamin D Supplementation and Its Effect on Relapse Frequency and MRI Activity in Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.71692 STUDY: Social and Socioeconomic Factors and Cognitive Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221103482600475X STUDY: Effectiveness of Escalation Versus Early High-Efficacy Therapies on Progression Independent of Relapse Activity In Multiple Sclerosis: A Danish Nationwide Study https://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001690 PARTICIPATE: University of Illinois Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life Research Laboratory Fall Prevention Study Email: [email protected] REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 471 Guest: Dr. Gabriela Karolidis Privacy Policy

Wise men and women remind us that life is a marathon, and not a sprint. Joining us this week is Benji Wilkins. Benji is a magician in the U.K., and for 42 days this summer, his life was quite literally a marathon. In the process, Benji raised money to help his mom, who lives with MS, and he raised awareness of MS across the U.K. and around the world.   We're also sharing results of a study that focused on gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people living with MS. We'll tell you how you can participate in the MOMENT-MS study and help researchers develop a smartphone app that takes a novel approach to managing MS-related pain. And we're reminding you to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. It's your opportunity to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world! We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Running a marathon a day (when you're not a runner) for MS  :22 Cleveland Clinic researchers look at gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people with MS  1:02 University of Washington researchers are developing an app to manage MS pain using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. And you can help them!   6:53 Sign up to participate in the largest MS research conference in the world   5:27 Benji Wilkins describes what it's like to run 42 marathons in 42 days on behalf of his mom, who lives with MS  6:53  Share this episode  29:01 Next week  29:20 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/470 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Feasibility and Outcomes of Gait Training With a Powered Exoskeleton in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40465831 SUPPORT: Marathons For Mum Web: https://marathonsformum.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjitwilkins PARTICIPATE: MOMENT-MS Study Web:   https://uwmsrehabwell.org/moment-ms Email: [email protected] Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TA5-9dy7s REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 470 Guest: Benji Wilkins Privacy Policy

Cognitive changes in MS—fluctuations in processing speed, memory, and executive function—can significantly impact daily life, yet they're often misunderstood or overlooked in routine clinical exams. This week, we are joined by Dr. Anna Kratz, clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, to discuss actionable, evidence-based ways to navigate cognitive challenges.  Dr. Kratz breaks down the latest findings from the CogDetect-MS study, exploring how daily symptom fluctuations, complex medication regimens, and common substances like caffeine and cannabis influence brain fog. She also shares practical compensatory workarounds and introduces a no-cost digital self-management resource, My MSToolKit. We'll also explain the new framework for describing MS that's been proposed by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis. We're sharing study results that reveal why detecting even a single silent lesion on an MRI should trigger an immediate conversation about stepping up to high-efficacy therapy. And we'll tell you about 2 advanced MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline — even in the absence of any relapses or new lesions on MRI. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Maintaining and improving cognitive function  :22 The International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis calls for updating the way MS is described   1:12 A study provides evidence for switching your DMT when there's even a single silent lesion on your MRI   6:53 Scientists identify two MRI markers that can predict future cognitive decline in early relapsing-remitting MS   10:53 Dr. Anna Kratz discusses maintaining and improving cognitive function  15:33  Share this episode  42:13 Next week  42:33 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/469 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com PAPER: Towards a Biologically Informed Description of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Course -- A Roadmap for Transition https://rdcu.be/fxBw1 STUDY: Treatment Escalation After Clinically Silent MRI Lesions in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awag252/8741305 STUDY: Paramagnetic Rim Lesions and Choroid Plexus Volume at Diagnosis Are Associated With Cognitive Progression Independent of Relapse and MRI Activity in Early Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.70448 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 469 Guest: Dr. Anna Kratz Privacy Policy

Imagine your spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with MS...shortly after you were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and given just a 15% chance of survival. All of a sudden, the roles of patient and care partner are up for grabs -- and they change with almost daily frequency.  That's exactly the scenario my guest, Kathleen Silva, faced. Kathleen is joining me to discuss how she and her husband, Rick, survived and thrived amid that frightening chaos. (Spoiler alert -- no one died!)  We'll also tell you about an investigational drug that's the first to promise neuroprotection during an MS relapse. We're sharing study results that show people with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon. We'll provide compelling evidence for anyone with MS to quit smoking.  And we're breaking down the results of a study that analyzed mortality rates in cases where MS was listed as the underlying cause of death. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: When the roles of patient and care partner get turned upside down and inside out  :22 The FDA green lights clinical trials for an investigational drug that promises neuroprotection during an MS relapse   1:08 People living with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon   5:43 Study results provide startling evidence for quitting smoking if you're living with MS   8:34 In spite of highly effective DMTs, mortality rates for deaths in which MS is listed as the underlying cause are increasing  14:05 Kathleen Silva takes us through the harrowing time in her life when her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with MS shortly after she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and given just a 15% chance of surviving   19:23  Share this episode  35:12 Next week  36:31 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/468 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Use of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Among People with Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261442033 STUDY: Impact of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption on Disease Progression and MRI In People With Multiple Sclerosis: Results of the Prospective Cohort Study NationMS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261464304 STUDY: Racial and Ethnic Trends and Comorbidity Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis Mortality https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000148 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 468 Guest: Kathleen Silva Privacy Policy

If you Google the term "shared decision making", you'll find it defined as a collaborative process where patients and clinicians work together to select tests, treatments, and care plans based on clinical evidence and the patient's personal values and goals. But shared decision-making isn't an automatic happy pill. It takes work, it takes discipline, and it takes a clear understanding of both the patient's and the clinician's roles. This week, Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman join me to share how shared decision-making has worked for them over the course of their longtime doctor-patient relationship, and how it can work for you. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into shared decision-making  :22 Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman discuss how they have made shared decision-making work, and what to do if it isn't working for you and your neurologist  2:39 Share this episode  32:05 Next week  32:25 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/467 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 467 Guests: Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman Privacy Policy

We get more listener emails about diet and MS than almost any other topic. If you're curious about how some of the well-known diets for MS actually stack up, or you're interested in understanding the connection between diet and MS-related fatigue, or you want to know what the biggest obstacle to staying on a new diet is (and this may surprise you), then this is the episode for you. We're devoting this week's entire episode to my conversation with Dr. Tyler Titcomb, an assistant professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, and a registered dietitian with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into diet and MS  :22 Dr. Tyler Titcomb breaks down what you need to know about how diet influences multiple sclerosis and why it plays such a key role.  :54 Share this episode  25:22 Next week  25:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/466 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 466 Guest: Dr. Tyler Titcomb Privacy Policy

During his fellowship in the United States, Dr. Avinash Chandra trained to become an MS specialist at a world-class MS center. Then he returned home to Nepal and discovered that MS was largely considered non-existent. But Dr. Chandra knew it wasn't.  In this week's episode, Dr. Chandra discusses his experience creating a framework for MS care in Nepal that hadn't existed before. He also explains the necessary trade-offs in providing costly medical treatment in a country where the average family of four lives on an income of $500 a month.  It's been well-established that males living with MS tend to experience faster and more severe disease progression than females. We're sharing results of a study that shows clear differences in healthcare use by sex up to a decade before the onset of MS.  We'll tell you about a newly published review of 30 years of data measuring the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). And we're sharing the registration details for ECTRIMS Community Patient Day (it's a free live and online event you won't want to miss!) We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: MS care in a country that considered MS non-existent  :22 A study analyzed sex differences in healthcare usage between males and females with MS up to a decade before the first MS symptom develops   1:45 30 years of accumulated data show significant benefits of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in treating relapsing forms of MS   6:17 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research   9:32 Dr. Avniash Chandra discusses MS care in Nepal  12:43  Share this episode  35:40 Next week  36:01 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/465 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00396-2/fulltext PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/07/22/sex-differences-in-healthcare-use-before-the-first-multiple-sclerosis-related-demyelinating-event-explained LISTEN: Dr. Helen Tremlett Discusses the MS Prodrome https://realtalkms.com/321 STUDY: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482159 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 465 Guest: Dr. Avinash Chandra Privacy Policy

If you've spent any time at all living with or caring for someone with multiple sclerosis, you know that medical textbooks and information-filled websites can give us facts, figures, and symptoms, but they rarely capture the sometimes messy, sometimes overwhelming, and sometimes darkly funny reality of what it actually feels like to get a diagnosis of MS and realize your life has suddenly shifted under your feet. Our guest, Liat Shalom, was diagnosed with MS in 2021, at the age of 30. Instead of letting that diagnosis define her, Liat picked up her pen and created Unravelled—a groundbreaking graphic memoir that refuses to sugar-coat the MS experience.   For about five years, we've known that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) triggers MS. We'll explain what biologists just discovered about how EBV triggers MS, and what that could mean for future treatments. We're sharing evidence from an important study that shows a simple blood test is as accurate as MRI in determining whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse. We're sharing details of a study showing that virtual reality (VR) therapy is effective in treating MS-related brain fog. And if you're a woman between the ages of 45 and 60 and you're experiencing perimenopause, we'll share an easy way for you to participate in MS research without leaving home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Unravalled, Liat Shalom's darkly humorous graphic novel about her MS journey  :22 Scientists discover how the Epstein-Barr virus triggers MS  1:53 A simple blood test can determine whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse  4:08 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research   6:58 Virtual reality therapy can improve MS-related brain fog   9:16 An opportunity to participate in MS research for women between 45-60 who are experiencing perimenopause  11:41 Liat Shalom discusses her journey to an MS diagnosis that led her to create Unravalled, a darkly humorous graphic memoir  13:11  Share this episode  30:32 Next week  30:52 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/464 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com Unravelled: The Story of an MS Warrior by Liat Shalom https://unraveledgraphicnovel.com STUDY: CD4+ T-Cells Reactive to Epstein-Barr Virus Late Lytic Antigens are Enriched in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adz6566 STUDY: Utility of Multi-Analyte Protein Assay to Distinguish Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Relapse from Pseudoexacerbation https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00984-2 STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH: Perimenopause and Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/ms-study-alert-perimenopause-survey STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 464 Guest: Liat Shalom Privacy Policy

Living with depression has been described as "like living under a wet, heavy blanket". It can stop someone from showing up at work, meeting up with friends, and even connecting with their family.  One out of every two people living with MS will experience depression at some point in their MS journey. The METS for MS study is focused on a novel approach to treating major depressive disorder among people with MS -- one that doesn't require another infusion, injection, or pill. This week, Dr. Robert Motl, principal investigator for the METS for MS study, joins us to explain what the study is about and what his team is learning.  And Kelly, who lives with progressive MS, joins us to share how her participation in the study became life-changing.  We'll also tell you about the $500,000 donation to MS research that Fernando Mendoza and his family just made. We're sharing the details about the CAR-NKT cell therapy for MS that's being developed at UCLA. You'll learn about the novel nanoparticle therapy for MS that's being developed by a team at Syracuse University's BioInspired Institute. And we're sharing the surprising results of a study that measured the effectiveness of Rituximab versus Ocrevus.  We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A study focusing on a novel approach to treating MS-related depression  :22 Fernando Mendoza and his family donate $500,000 to MS research  1:18 UCLA research team receives a $7.49 million dollar grant to develop CAR-NKT therapy for MS  2:22 Syracuse University research team receives NIH grant to develop novel nanoparticle therapy for MS   6:22 Study results: Rituximab and Ocrevus were compared head-to-head and the results are surprising   9:43 Dr. Robert Motl explains the Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis, and Kelly explains how her participation in the study turned out to be life-changing  14:22 Share this episode  35:43 Next week  36:03 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/463 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2600993 PARTICIPATE: Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis (METS for MS) Email: [email protected]  Phone Ariel: (312) 355-1790 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 463 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl, Kelly Privacy Policy

The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that people living with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations at work. That law also applies to students attending most colleges and universities. And the ADA doesn't limit itself to physical disabilities. It's often applied to invisible disabilities, as well. This week, Britt Neff, the Access Specialist at the University of Washington School of Law, joins me to explain all the ways the accommodation process can work for college students living with MS.   We'll also tell you about PTD802, an oral remyelination therapy that's just been given a green light from the FDA to begin human clinical trials We're sharing evidence from an important study that should make you feel more confident about getting those MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines. You'll learn what researchers at the Cleveland Clinic discovered when they asked the question, "Can someone living with MS over the age of 60 discontinue their disease-modifying therapy?" And we're sharing the details about an AI application that can predict -- with 90% accuracy -- whether someone with MS is at risk of experiencing cognitive decline over the next few years.  We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Understanding "reasonable accommodation" at college  :22 FDA approves oral remyelination therapy PTD802 for Phase 1 clinical trial  1:07 Study results: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines are shown to be safe for people with MS  4:52 Study results: Is it safe for someone living with MS over 60 to discontinue their DMT?   7:34 Study results: AI predicts future cognitive changes among people with MS with 90% accuracy   10:45 Britt Neff explains the many types of accommodation available to college students with MS  15:01 Share this episode  28:24 Next week  28:44 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/462 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com Pheno Therapeutics https://phenotherapeutics.com STUDY: Live Attenuated MMR and Varicella Vaccinations and Multiple Sclerosis Activity https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2849165 STUDY: Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Over Age 60: Comparing Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Disease-Modifying Therapy Continuers and Discontinuers https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20552173261448005 STUDY: Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Neurocognitive Disorder Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Using MRI and Clinical Data https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.70568 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 462 Guest: Britt Neff Privacy Policy

A short while ago, we shared very positive results from the Phase 3 clinical trials for fenebrutinib in both relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS. Those results have been submitted to the FDA for approval. This week, Dr. Jiwon Oh, the principal investigator in one of the Phase 3 trials for fenebrutinib, walks us through these positive results and explains what makes fenebrutinib a different kind of disease-modifying therapy and who might benefit most from it.   We're also talking about the European approval of Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) to treat nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS, and we'll share our perspective on why the FDA should have -- and should still -- approve this DMT in the U.S. We'll tell you about two studies funded by the National MS Society that will focus on identifying links between menopause and MS. We'll share some sobering news about healthcare affordability in America. And we'll share some good news from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, along with an opportunity for you to spend just 5 minutes doing some important advocacy work. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Fenebrutinib has been submitted to the FDA for approval  :22 Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) approved in Europe for Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS  1:09 National MS Society funds two studies to identify links between menopause and MS  4:19 Healthcare has become unaffordable for the majority of Americans  8:23 The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has approved $20 million in funding for the MS Research Program   11:57 Dr. Jiwon Oh explains why Fenebrutinib is a different kind of disease-modifying therapy, and who may benefit from it  15:36 Share this episode  32:22 Next week  32:43 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/461 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL: Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2415988 VIDEO: Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Fox Discusses the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJQ93qdlXrU GALLUP POLL: U.S. Adults' Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low https://news.gallup.com/poll/710942/adults-ability-afford-healthcare-five-year-low.aspx JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 461 Guest: Dr. Jiwon Oh Privacy Policy

Next week, Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the 350-mile length of Ireland with MS. This week, you'll meet Matt and Colin and learn why this undertaking is so important to each of them.  We're also sharing survey results that point to gaps in how we approach MS care from the day of diagnosis. We'll tell you what it really means when you read that the prevalence of MS is increasing. It isn't bad news at all! We'll provide you with all the details you need to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. And, if you can spare 20 minutes, we'll tell you how you can participate in an MS research study from the comfort of your own home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're hitting the open road in Ireland with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman  :22 Survey points to gaps in how we approach MS care from day one  2:48 What does the increase in MS prevalence really mean?  8:48 Register for ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day  12:33 An opportunity for you to participate in MS research without leaving home   14:10 Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman talk about their attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the length of Ireland with MS  15:56 Share this episode  32:13 Next week  32:33 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/460 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Understanding the Unmet Needs of People with MS at Diagnosis and Throughout Their Care Journey: Insights from a Survey-Based Study https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00942-y STUDY: Drivers of Prevalence in Major Motor Neurodegenerative Diseases: Temporal Trends in Sweden and France (2003-2022) https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218072 REGISTER: ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day https://www.ectrimspatientcommunity.eu PARTICPATE IN RESEARCH: Survey: Automatic and Reflective Determinants, Fatigue, and Physical Activity for People with Multiple Sclerosis https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_douenJftXAcGxVk JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 460 Guest: Matt Knaggs, Colin Goodman Privacy Policy