Imagine that, using your smartphone, you log into a Zoom call from home. You connect with your MS specialist and, while you're chatting, an artificial intelligence-based system is analyzing biometric measurements that will enable your doctor to deliver or fine-tune an MS treatment plan that's been personalized to meet your exact needs. That's the vision driving NeuraLight, an early-stage company that's, first, aiming to re-write clinical trial design and accelerate new drug development. Joining ...
Jul 25, 2022•36 min•Season 5Ep. 256
In last week's episode, we looked at talking with kids about MS. This week, we'll visit the opposite end of the spectrum as Dr. John Corboy discusses some of the things you'll want to think about as you age with MS. Dr. Corboy is a professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the Director of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado. Dr. Corboy is also the Principal Investigator in a recently completed clinical trial that focused o...
Jul 18, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 255
Whether we adults admit it or not, kids see everything. That includes seeing a parent or other family member who's living with MS. And because kids don't have an understanding of neurological conditions, they use their imaginations to fill in the blanks. That can very quickly take them down a rabbit-hole that's far scarier than the reality of living with MS. So, when do you talk to your kids about MS? And what do you say? Licensed social worker and behavioral specialist Erin Martin joins me to t...
Jul 11, 2022•31 min•Season 5Ep. 254
Everybody remembers the day -- sometimes, even the moment -- when they were diagnosed with MS. And in that moment, you may not have known very much about living with MS, but you probably felt like everything was about to change. One of the most common emotional responses to MS is grief. Joining me to talk about the relationship between grief and MS, as well as share some specific steps and strategies that you can take to process and manage grief in a healthy way is clinical psychologist Dr. Rosa...
Jul 04, 2022•32 min•Season 5Ep. 253
When I began thinking about launching RealTalk MS, one of the first things I did was listen to other podcasts for the MS community. Five years ago, there weren't nearly as many podcasts focused on MS as there are today, but one of the podcasts I listened to was FUMS. And after listening to that podcast, I remember feeling inspired about moving forward with my plans for launching this podcast. Joining me to talk about her journey from being diagnosed with MS to launching her podcast and learning ...
Jun 27, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 252
Health disparities, systemic inequities, and discrimination often stand in the way of gaining access to MS care for members of the LGBTQ+ community. As we explore some of the obstacles faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community in accessing healthcare, we'll gain the clinician's perspective in our conversation with MS specialist, Dr. William Conte. We'll hear about the experiences of a queer trans person living with MS when we talk with Payshunz Nagashima. And we'll learn about the National MS Soc...
Jun 20, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 251
One afternoon during the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting, I set up my equipment at the National MS Society's booth in the conference exhibit hall and recorded some conversations with a few old friends and a few new friends of the podcast. In this week's episode, we'll hear a couple of those conversations. Before I left for the conference, I had a chance to catch up with Dr. Saud Sadiq. So, we'll begin this episode with an update on his mesenchymal stem cell clinical trial...
Jun 15, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 250
In 2007, Tyler Campbell was a running back at San Diego State, looking forward to a real shot at a career in the NFL. Instead, Tyler's life was turned upside down by an MS diagnosis. For some people, that would have been the end of the story. For Tyler, it was only the beginning. In this week's episode, Tyler Campbell talks about his transformational journey from the football field to becoming a motivational and inspirational leader in the MS movement. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready ...
Jun 06, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 249
Starting a family is a big step for anyone. And when you're living with MS and you're on MS medications along with other symptom management medications, planning a family creates a lot of questions about what's safe and what's not. Dr. Annette Langer-Gould, a clinician-scientist and MS specialist in the Kaiser-Permanente health system, joins me to answer questions about how to safely and successfully navigate conception, pregnancy, and the postpartum period with MS. We'll also get a briefing fro...
May 30, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 248
Think about how much faster, easier, cheaper, and less invasive it would be if MS could be diagnosed by a simple blood test. Scientists have identified biomarkers that can be used to diagnose MS and even predict MS before someone experiences any symptoms. Biomarkers may even be used to predict MS progression before it occurs. Joining me to discuss how biomarkers may change the way MS is diagnosed and treated is Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, as well as th...
May 23, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 247
When my wife was diagnosed with MS in 1997, the annual cost of her MS medication was $9,000. Today, the annual cost of that same medication is $110,000. We cannot allow the insanity associated with the cost of MS medications to continue. Joining me to discuss the impact of the outrageously high cost of MS medications -- and what each of us can do about it -- is the National MS Society's Vice-President of Advocacy, Steffany Stern. We're also talking about a Phase 1 clinical trial for an investiga...
May 16, 2022•34 min•Season 5Ep. 246
For some, the journey to their MS diagnosis is relatively quick and straightforward. For others, it can be lengthy and convoluted, sometimes taking years. Joining me to talk about some of the twists and turns that can pop up on the road to being diagnosed with MS is Dr. Michael Robers, a neurologist in the Multiple Sclerosis Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute. We're also talking about a study that measured MS prevalence among Black,...
May 09, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 245
Planning for your financial future is good advice for everyone. But when you're living with MS, financial planning is an important part of the game plan for living your best life. Joining me to talk about the things you'll want to keep in mind as you develop your personal financial roadmap is Dick Bell, a professional financial advisor who has worked with more than 600 clients who are living with MS. We're also talking about how Russia's invasion of Ukraine is impacting MS clinical research. We'...
May 02, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 244
Living with MS is expensive. And if you're curious about how expensive living with MS is, why it's so expensive, and what can be done about it, then you're going to be interested in the results of a study that was commissioned by the National MS Society. Joining me to talk about what this study revealed and what it means to individuals and families affected by MS are Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice-President of Research at the National MS Society, and the MS Society's Executive Vice-President...
Apr 25, 2022•31 min•Season 5Ep. 243
Mask mandates have mostly ended, and bars, restaurants, public buildings, and other businesses no longer require proof of vaccination. It looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Except for the fact that we're seeing cases of the latest COVID subvariant continue to rise in cities across the country and around the world. So, how do we navigate this post-pandemic world? And if you happen to be immunocompromised, how do you stay safe? Joining me as she has throughout the pandemic, with an update i...
Apr 18, 2022•34 min•Season 5Ep. 242
I spent last week attending the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting and in this week's episode of RealTalk MS, I'm sharing an overview of what I saw and what I heard. Each year at the AAN meeting, the American Academy of Neurology and the National MS Society award the John Dystel Prize for MS Research. Joining me on today's podcast is this year's recipient of the Dystel Prize, Professor Xavier Montalban. We're also talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected MS research a...
Apr 11, 2022•26 min•Season 5Ep. 241
Research has shown that hypnosis is an effective treatment for managing chronic pain, including pain associated with MS. My guest, Dr. Mark Jensen, is a Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Jensen has devoted his career to developing effective treatments for pain and is an expert on hypnotic interventions. We're also talking about a research team that may have learned how to successfully penetrate the blood-brain barrier (and ...
Apr 04, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 240
A decade ago, the International Progressive MS Alliance didn't exist. Today, it can be credited with changing the global conversation about progressive MS research, elevating the progressive MS research agenda and moving the work forward. A few weeks ago, the Alliance announced the details of an ambitious strategic plan that will guide their work over the next 3 years. Joining me to talk about the new goals that were set by the Alliance, and what that means for people affected by progressive MS,...
Mar 28, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 239
The Pathways to Cures initiative is focused on stopping MS progression, restoring lost function, and ending MS forever. This bold initiative has already been endorsed by more than 20 MS research and patient organizations around the world. And now, the publication of the Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap has brought us to a pivotal moment in the history of MS research. Joining me in this episode of RealTalk MS are two very special guests, Dr. Carol Whitacre and Professor Alan Thompson. We're tak...
Mar 21, 2022•35 min•Season 5Ep. 238
It's MS Awareness Week and my guest is Marti Hines. Marti is a successful event producer, entrepreneur, film producer, and director. She was diagnosed with MS in 2018, and Marti has been very transparent in sharing the highs and lows of her MS journey on her social channels. Like so many people living with MS, Marti has an amazing energy and a seemingly endless supply of resilience. You're going to enjoy meeting her. We're also talking about why increasing diversity in clinical trials is so vita...
Mar 14, 2022•28 min•Season 5Ep. 237
If you're living with MS, there's a good chance that, at some point, you're going to deal with depression, cognitive issues, or both of these common MS symptoms. We're taking a deep dive into how these symptoms can impact your everyday life at home and at work with the author of Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis , Dr. Anthony Feinstein. We're also highlighting some of the MS research that was presented two weeks ago at the ACTRIMS Forum, the annual me...
Mar 07, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 236
I've always believed that the things people affected by MS want most -- things like access to quality healthcare, affordable prescription medications, and funding for MS research -- are all functions of public policy. The people who decide whether we get those things are our elected officials at both the state and federal level. That's why advocacy is a priority. The National MS Society's Public Policy Conference is taking place on March 7th. Joining me with a preview of what we can expect to se...
Feb 28, 2022•29 min•Season 5Ep. 235
Many of our local, state, and national leaders seem to be declaring that the pandemic has ended and it's back to business as usual. But if you're living with MS, how comfortable are you with the idea of being out in a world where everyone isn't fully vaccinated, and mask mandates have been cancelled? Dr. Meghan Beier and Emily Reilly join me to discuss how to manage your fear and anxiety, build resilience, and deal with the emotional impact of living life in a world where COVID-19 is considered ...
Feb 21, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 234
With hospital rates starting to decline and mask mandates being lifted in several states there seems to be a general sense that we're seeing COVID-19 becoming an endemic virus. And we have to wonder what that means for people living with MS. Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to talk about the preventative treatments for COVID-19 that are available today for people who are living with MS, the importance of receiving 4 doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines if you're living with MS, and some of the things w...
Feb 14, 2022•36 min•Season 5Ep. 233
Research shows that about 50% of the people living with MS will develop another chronic health condition, or comorbidity , in their lifetime. Whether it's high blood pressure, diabetes, or something else, living with comorbid conditions adds extra challenges to living with MS. Joining me to discuss how comorbidities affect people living with MS and what you can do to avoid developing some of those comorbidities is one of the leading experts on the subject, Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie. We're also talking...
Feb 07, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 232
Now that Harvard researchers have presented compelling evidence that MS is triggered by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), what does it mean in terms of ending MS in the world? What does it mean for people already living with MS? And how will this announcement impact MS research? Joining me to unpack the details and implications of this research breakthrough is the Executive Vice-President of Research for the National MS Society, Dr. Bruce Bebo. We're also talking about new research from Stanford Uni...
Jan 31, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 231
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS. It just gets in the way of fully engaging in life, making fatigue one of the most bothersome symptoms of MS. And because MS fatigue is one of the main causes of early withdrawal from the workforce, fatigue is an MS symptom that can impose a hefty financial penalty on a household. Joining me to talk about managing and even reducing MS fatigue is Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis in Hartford, C...
Jan 24, 2022•29 min•Season 5Ep. 230
This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and MS in the 21st Century . In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're talking with Pieter van Galen and Amanda Montague about that sometimes-challenging conversation with your healthcare provider about MS progression. We're also highlighting My MS Roadmap , a free tool designed to make conversations with your healthcare provider easier by offering clear and easy to understand definitions of the complex language used to describe ...
Jan 19, 2022•14 min
Last week, a research team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health presented compelling evidence that the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) triggers multiple sclerosis. So, we're taking a deep dive into the role of EBV and MS. We'll review the breakthrough results of this research and we'll re-share our conversation with one of the researchers in this game-changing study. We'll review the status of an experimental cell therapy that's designed to remove the EBV virus from infected b-cells in peop...
Jan 17, 2022•32 min•Season 5Ep. 229
This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and MS in the 21st Century . Cognitive impairment affects more than 50% of the people living with MS. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're talking with Dr. Sarah Morrow and Paola Kruger about how people living with MS can work together with their healthcare providers to develop a constructive dialogue about cognition and MS. Dr. Sarah Morrow is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sc...
Jan 12, 2022•16 min
