RealTalk MS

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: jon@realtalkms.com
Phone: (310) 526-2283
And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes 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
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For years, the standard medical advice for someone diagnosed with multiple sclerosis was simple, cautious, and as we now know, incredibly limiting: "Take it easy. Don't overexert yourself. And get plenty of rest." 
Today, like almost every other aspect of MS care, neurological rehabilitation is being entirely rewritten. It's no longer about just managing decline; it's about leveraging emerging technologies to proactively build resilience, retrain the brain, and adopt cutting-edge exercise science to fundamentally change the trajectory of life with MS.
This week, three experts share their thoughts on what MS rehabilitation looks like in 2026...and it's not your father's MS rehab!


Dr. Brian Sandroff breaks down his groundbreaking research on how tailored exercise regimens—like treadmill walking—can actually improve memory, boost processing speed, and spark cognitive recovery.
Dr. Brad Willingham discusses the game-changing world of continuous remote monitoring, explaining how wearable sensors and AI are turning real-world, 24/7 data into hyper-personalized, dynamic treatment plans.
And Dr. Laura Rice delivers a practical exercise blueprint for individuals with MS who use wheelchairs. You'll learn how to jumpstart a safe fitness routine while effectively managing risks like heat sensitivity, shoulder overuse, skin breakdown, and the fear of falling.
We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: We're taking a deep dive into MS rehabilitation :22
Dr. Brian Sandroff answers the question, "Can exercise be used to treat cognitive impairment?"    2:10
Dr. Brad Willingham explains how AI can play a meaningful role in MS rehabilitation and clinical care  13:41
Dr. Laura Rice shares tips and strategies for exercising safely if you rely on a wheelchair for mobility   26:18
Share this episode  46:27
Next week  46:47

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS
Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/459
ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION
I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!
Email: jon@realtalkms.com
Phone: (310) 526-2283
And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes 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 459
Guest: Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice
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This week, our coverage of the Consortium of MS Centers annual meeting continues with my guest, Dr. Stephen Krieger. In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Krieger offers a very encouraging clinical trial update, shares his thoughts on what treating someone living with advanced MS ought to look like, and points out potential obstacles to implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS. 


Dr. Krieger is a Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and a Multiple Sclerosis Specialist at the Corinne Coldsmith Dickinson Center for MS.
We're also sharing results of a study that revealed some surprising connections between caffeine, alcohol, opioids, and MS symptoms.
And if you're living with MS and you're the parent of a young child, we'll tell you about a book that belongs on your bookshelf.


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

This Week: We're at the CMSC annual meeting with Dr. Stephen Krieger  :22
Study reveals the connection between caffeine, alcohol, and opioids and your MS symptoms    1:12
My Superhero with Wheels is the book you need if you're living with MS and have young children  5:15
Dr. Stephen Krieger discusses exciting clinical trial results, treating people with advanced MS, and potential challenges in implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS   8:39
Share this episode  30:22
Next week  30:41

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS
Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/458
ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION
I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!
Email: jon@realtalkms.com
Phone: (310) 526-2283
And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com
STUDY: Daily Temporal Associations Between Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People with Multiple Sclerosis
https://archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(26)00035-3/fulltext

BOOK: My Superhero with Wheels
https://amazon.com/My-Superhero-wheels-True-Story/dp/B0GWVGSWX5/ref=sr_1_1

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 458
Guest: Dr. Stephen Krieger
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Last week, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, best known as CMSC, hosted its annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we had a chance to talk with some of the world's top MS experts. We'll be sharing those conversations over the next few episodes of the podcast. Welcome to Part One of our coverage of CMSC 2026!

In what has become an annual tradition at this conference, Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, joins me to share her impressions of the sessions and presentations that stood out to her.
I also caught up with Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove on the first day of the CMSC annual meeting, and we discussed how wearable devices and digital tools are finding their way into MS care and how they can improve the quality of care for people living with MS.
We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: We're reporting from CMSC  :22
Dr. Kathy Zackowski shares the CMSC presentations that caught her eye  1:04
Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove discuss how wearable devices and digital tools are reshaping MS care  14:29
Share this episode  28:20
Next week  28:39

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS
Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/457
ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION
I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!
Email: jon@realtalkms.com
Phone: (310) 526-2283
And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes 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 457
Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, Dr. Riley Bove
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May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is "My MS Diagnosis," and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, "You have MS."
This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis. 


Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee. 
We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS.
And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS.


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

This Week: World MS Day!  :22
Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS    2:40
Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS  4:34
Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis  8:40
Share this episode  28:51
Next week  29:12

SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS
Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/456
ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION
I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!
Email: jon@realtalkms.com
Phone: (310) 526-2283
And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

LINKS
If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com
World MS Day Poster Maker
https://worldmsday.org/poster-maker
STUDY: The Exercise Hormone Irisin Has Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01527-7
CLINICAL TRIAL: A Study of Nasal Foralumab in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06292923

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 456
Guest: Dr. Nancy Sicotte
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